The alleged murders of two women and two girls over a four-day period last week have prompted renewed calls for systemic reform regarding domestic and family violence in Australia. The victims—identified as Lavanya Chappa, Jana Armstrong, 13-year-old Layla Jeffery, and a 17-year-old Yolngu girl—represent what advocates describe as another crisis point for domestic and family violence. This follows an eight-week period since the alleged killing of a woman and two children in a Sydney home, and the January deaths of Sophie Quinn, her unborn baby, Nerida Quinn, and John Harris.
Did You Know? A 2024 study by researchers, including a co-author from the University of New South Wales, found that over more than a decade, only 16% of recommendations from the two longest-running state death reviews in Queensland and New South Wales had been properly enacted by governments and agencies.
The Implementation Gap Versus Knowledge
While public discourse often centers on the need for new inquiries or a royal commission, experts argue the primary barrier to progress is a failure to execute existing mandates. Katherine Berney, a policy expert on gender-based violence, stated that there is no “knowledge gap” regarding the issue. Instead, she pointed to an “implementation gap,” noting that there are already more than 1,000 recommendations.
This cycle of tragedy and subsequent calls for action is not new. Seventeen years ago, the national council to reduce violence against women and their children published a reform blueprint titled “time for action.” Despite such long-standing frameworks, experts and those working to prevent violence against women report a recurring pattern of outrage and fatigue, often fuelled by the latest tragedy, then prolonged by the inability of governments to implement lasting and effective, though costly, reforms.
Critique of Performative Government Responses
Dr. Emma Buxton-Namisnyk, a senior lecturer at the University of New South Wales, suggests that government responses to these tragedies may be “performative”. According to Dr. Buxton-Namisnyk, governments like populist announcements to manage a spike in public concern rather than providing the sustained investment out of the public purse required for real change.
In Queensland, these concerns are particularly acute following the alleged domestic violence murder of Toowoomba woman Jana Armstrong. The state recently cut tens of millions in funding and resources from its domestic violence response. Additionally, Queensland police have scrapped a specialist domestic and family violence command, deciding that domestic violence case management is not “core business.”
The Future of Domestic Violence Policy
The future of domestic violence prevention may remain stalled if current trends in policy implementation continue. Berney says that if only crisis response is used, then only crisis is achieved. Retired judge Margaret McMurdo, who chaired a state taskforce on women’s safety, noted that the government “seems to have abandoned” critical parts of the taskforce’s recommendations, leaving few pathways for immediate institutional change.
Without a government-backed database to track homicides or other statistics, or ongoing monitoring of national progress, the ability to enact data-driven policy remains limited. Future progress may depend on whether states move beyond crisis-based interventions toward the long-term, funded strategies that experts have advocated for.
Expert Insight: The disconnect between policy recommendations and government action creates a dangerous stagnation. When the Queensland domestic and family violence “death review” advisory board quietly stopped reviewing all cases, former member Betty Taylor said the review had stopped centring women’s experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary barrier to reducing domestic violence according to experts?
Policy experts, including Katherine Berney, identify an “implementation gap” rather than a lack of knowledge, noting that over 1,000 recommendations for reform already exist.
How have government responses been characterized by researchers?
Dr. Emma Buxton-Namisnyk describes government responses as potentially “performative,” arguing they often focus on managing public concern through populist announcements rather than sustained investment out of the public purse.
What is the status of death review systems in Australia?
While most Australian states have death review systems to analyze cases, identify systemic problems, and make recommendations, a 2024 study found that only 16% of recommendations from the longest-running reviews in New South Wales and Queensland have been properly enacted over more than a decade.
If you are seeking support, domestic and family violence counseling is available in Australia from Full Stop Australia at 1800 385 578.
Are the current mechanisms for reporting and tracking domestic violence homicides sufficient to drive meaningful policy change?