A quarter of all matters appearing in NSW local courts in 2023 were domestic violence-related, new data has shown.
First reported by Guardian Australia, data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (Bocsar) has revealed that 26 per cent of matters finalised in local courts last year were related to domestic violence — a 6 per cent rise from 2019.
There’s been a rise in the percentage of domestic and family violence-related assault charges withdrawn from the local court by the prosecution — from 18 per cent in 2019 to 27 per cent last year.
The executive director of Bocsar, Jackie Fitzgerald attributted the increase in withdrawal rates to the courts attempting to catch up to accruing matters post-pandemic, and the time it takes for them to finalise the matters.
The average number of days it took to finalise a contested domestic family violence matter in the local court also increased from 170 days in 2019 to 266 days in 2023.
AVO breaches appearing before NSW courts increased by 46 per cent in 2019 to 2023 statewide, while overall AVOs granted statewide increased by 20 per cent during that same period. The percentages differed depending on regions — in Sydney, AVOs granted rose by 22 per cent, while surrounding regions saw a 17 per cent spike. The Grafton and Coffs Harbour area saw the highest surge, with a 41 per cent increase of AVOs granted.
Between 2019 to 2023, matters relating to all significant DV offences appearing in courts increased — there was a 29 per cent rise in assault-related matters while matters relating to intimidation and stalking rose by 51 per cent.
The latest data comes as community legal services across the state are calling for more funding to assist victim-survivors seek justice as the NSW budget is set to be delivered next week.
Over the weekend, Women’s Community Shelters CEO Annabelle Daniel OAM said that responding to domestic and family violence required a whole-of-government approach and warned the government to “assess the way their systems may either be weaponised by perpetrators of abuse, or inadvertently penalise victims as they are attempting to re-establish themselves.”
“Victim survivors are penalised at multiple levels when systems are not set up to be domestic violence-informed,” she said. “Victim/survivors’ assessments of their own safety are incredibly accurate. They have watched their abuser and kept themselves as safe as they can, often for years, and know patterns of behaviour intimately. Victims often reach out to police as a last resort to keep themselves safe.”
Legal Aid reported a 61 per cent spike for its legal services over the last two years and expects that figure to rise come July when corrosive control laws come into play.
In April, the National Legal Aid warned that over $300m additional annual government funding is needed to meet demand for legal aid services related to domestic and family violence.
Meanwhile, the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue (WSLD) is calling for more targeted funding in greater western Sydney, a region which accounts for 51 per cent of greater Sydney’s population and 59 per cent of all reported domestic violence-related homicides, assault and sexual offences.
“With more than a third of Greater Sydney’s domestic violence-related sexual assaults and homicides happening in the region, we call on the NSW Government to pledge $54 million a year for DV refuges in GWS to ensure no one is turned away when they need help,” the WSLD chief executive, Adam Leto said last week.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au.
Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.