People in NSW will soon be able to check if their partner has a recorded history of domestic violence, with the state government proposing a new disclosure scheme.
Based on a program launched in the UK, the Right To Ask Scheme in NSW will allow a person who may be at risk of domestic violence to access an online portal or phone line to find out information about their partner. NSW Police will approve any information before it is provided to the person, and there will be strict privacy controls, according to the government.
NSW has previously trialed a similar domestic violence disclosure scheme in 2016, with more than 50 people learning about their partner’s domestic violence history during the two-year scheme.
In 2018, the NSW Law Society said it was concerned about the lack of evidence of the scheme’s effectiveness, and that domestic violence was a complex problem, “not amenable to simple solutions”.
Upon announcing the new, proposed scheme, Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Paul Toole said the dating landscape has shifted considerably since 2016 with the rise of dating apps.
“We want to take the lessons from the experience in NSW and other jurisdictions around the world to develop this scheme with input from safety advocates that empowers people who may be at risk of domestic violence,” Toole said.
“This is an opportunity to help people go into relationships with their eyes wide open. It will allow them to make more informed decisions about continuing a relationship, moving in with someone or making them a part of their family, particularly where children are involved.”
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said he hoped the program would allow people to make informed decisions about their relationships.
“None of us want to see a loved one scarred by domestic violence and wishing they’d known their partner’s history sooner,” he said.
“We cannot continue to have women being killed in our community so we need to have new approaches, new thinking and new policies to back up our record domestic violence support funding.
“This is not the only solution to the growing domestic violence issue facing our state and many communities across Australia but if it saves one life then it will have been worth it.”
The government said it will review the scheme after it has been in operation for 12 months.
The Right to Know Scheme is based on a similar domestic violence disclosure program in the UK called Clare’s Law, named after Clare Wood who was murdered by her abusive ex-boyfriend in 2009.
Image above: Minister for Women’s Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Natalie Ward.