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Last modified on Sat 8 May 2021 20.01 EDT Six months before she was murdered, Noelene Beutel was beaten within an inch of her life; beaten so badly she ended up in hospital, her teeth cracked and her face covered in bruises. Two Queensland police officers came to the hospital to take a statement, but Noelene wouldnât speak to them. She was antagonistic â a response borne of fear and distress. At the same time her attacker was at home, looking after their infant daughter. So the police turned and left. According to the state coroner they âresponded poorly ⦠and wrote off the jobâ. ....
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. ....