In New South Wales (NSW), a proposed initiative aimed at addressing domestic violence has stalled after its initial promise in 2023. At that time, former Premier Dominic Perrottet committed to establishing the Right to Ask Scheme, designed to let individuals inquire about a current or former partner’s history of violent behaviour. While the scheme received endorsement from numerous domestic violence advocates, it fell by the wayside following the Coalition’s electoral defeat, with little communication about its future.
Survivor and advocate Jo Cooper asserts that access to such critical information could prevent many domestic violence-related fatalities. Despite reaching out for support from various politicians and organisations, she reports encountering limited responses, including evasive communications. The current Labour government, as noted by the Shadow Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, did not back the Coalition’s proposal.
Advocacy groups, including Full Stop Australia and Domestic Violence NSW (DVNSW), supported the scheme but declined to comment on its current status. While some survivors see the potential for a Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) to offer vital insights into partners’ criminal backgrounds, critics caution that financial constraints and implementation challenges could impede its effectiveness. A previous report on a trial of a DVDS between 2016 and 2019 highlighted significant operational costs, although some participants indicated it was beneficial for their safety.
Cooper, who has her own traumatic experiences of abuse, is pushing for a petition to revive the scheme, aiming for 20,000 signatures before July to compel legislative discussion. She believes that even if the DVDS is not a panacea, it could be instrumental in saving lives. As domestic violence reports continue to rise in NSW, Cooper is determined to fight for comprehensive preventative measures, insisting that communities deserve better protection and support.