The federal government’s plans to consider forcing repeat domestic violence offenders to wear a GPS tracking tag has received a mixed reaction from Illawarra’s anti-domestic violence advocates.
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Prime Minister Tony Abbott has announced a plan to work with state and territory governments to tackle the ‘‘scourge’’ of repeated domestic violence offenders.
The government has also pledged an additional $4 million to the national domestic violence hotline 1800RESPECT.
While Shellharbour councillor and anti family violence advocate Kellie Marsh heaped praise on the proposal, some services remained sceptical of the plan’s effectiveness.
‘‘I think it’s fantastic news for the women and young ladies in the region,’’ Cr Marsh said. ‘‘It will stop recurring offences.’’
Cr Marsh said a GPS ankle monitor would act as a deterrent, an unremovable signifier the wearer was a domestic violence offender.
‘‘It’s a big wake-up call to offenders, particularly those who break AVOs, that if you inflict violence you will be tagged in a very noticeable way,’’ she said.
However, co-ordinator of the Illawarra Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Sarah Marshall believes a mandatory tracker has the potential to make things worse for victims.
‘‘It would likely have a negative impact for women who still live with their perpetrators, even after AVOs are in place.’’
Ms Marshall said the community often didn’t realise victims remained with the offender for various reasons such as lack of places to go. ‘‘They could be there because there are no refuge beds available or they fear leaving will put them in danger of more violence,’’ she said.
‘‘Often the violence occurs between non romantic partners such as a mother and son or a grandchild.’’
While praising the additional hotline funds, Ms Marshall said funding would be better spent on frontline staff rather then ankle monitors.
‘‘We need more frontline staff for women to feel safe and secure, so that help will always be available.’’
Ms Marshall said most domestic violence services went under-resourced. Her own organisation serviced 72 referrals for help in one week with only two full-time and two part-time staff.
