Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety found last year that police responses often displayed “racism and biased attitudes”.
The result is a larger number of First Nations women listed as perpetrators of domestic violence; and what their advocates say is a failure by police to properly understand their circumstances.
In February, the Queensland government announced a taskforce would be established to consult with domestic violence survivors, service providers, lawyers and the general community about coercive control, which includes tactics such as blocking victims’ access to money and cutting them off from friends and family.
The taskforce is set to report back in October on possible legislative options.