South Australia‘s leaders have assured the state their focus remains on the elimination of violence against women but have conceded they don’t have all of the answers.
Four women’s lives were taken in just one week in November last year, allegedly at the hands of men they knew.
“We can’t live in a society that is as prosperous as the one we enjoy and have women living in fear that they might lose their lives, that can’t be tolerated,” Premier Peter Malinauskas told 9News.
The tragedies fuelled desperate cries for change directed at those in power.
“I’m not sure what the catalyst will be for genuine change right across our community,” Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said.
That seven days in November was the trigger for South Australia’s royal commission.
“It will drive responses in our state, so that anyone experiencing violence, no matter who they are or where they live will get the support they need,” anti-domestic violence campaigner Mary Leaker said.
Malinauskas said “there is clearly a lot more that needs to be done”.
“You can’t take an intergenerational challenge and fix it in a couple of years, but we’ve got to begin and that’s what we certainly hope our royal commission can do,” Malinauskas said.
The commission will begin on the first of July.
While the process is fast-tracked, any outcomes from it are still at least a year away, which is a long time for those that need help now.
“I think it’s important that we’re honest about the fact that there isn’t a single law change or a single funding announcement that will make this problem go away,” Malinauskas said.
As the issue of gendered violence dominates headlines, both the federal and state governments are acting.
In the last few weeks, crisis talks have been held, tougher bail laws were passed in South Australia and there are measures around coercive control and stalking in the works.
The premier said a holistic response is needed from both the government and society, including “men themselves”.
“That’s going to see a change that makes a difference in the long term,” Malinauskas said.
To make that change, the focus on how this violence is handled is shifting from crisis support to stepping in before women’s lives are at risk.
“We need to focus on perpetrator intervention,” Stevens said.
“We need to be identifying people at risk of committing family violence offences and engage as early as possible with those people.”
The state’s leaders have promised the issue will stay a priority but the path to ending the emergency remains unclear and won’t happen overnight.
With those on the frontline refusing to give up.
“People are tired, but we absolutely have to have hope,” Leaker said.
“We can make a difference on this issue and we need to keep our focus on the things we can do to make change.”
