Domestic and Family Violence in Australia is categorised and defined differently state to state. As a whole, “Domestic violence and emotional abuse are behaviours used by one person in a relationship to control the other. Partners may be married or not married; heterosexual, gay, or lesbian; living together, separated or dating.” (Domesticviolence.org) whereas Family violence is “abuse, in relation to a child” (Family Law Act 1975, S4). Some of the defining acts of domestic / family violence include; emotional abuse, physical assault, sexual assault, verbal abuse, financial abuse, psychological abuse, isolating a member from their friends and family, stopping a member from practicing their religion.
Although this law isn’t gender specific, most of the time the victims of these assaults are women and children. When looking at how serious domestic violence is, it would be thought that as soon as the authorities know that someone is being abused, they would step in a help but that's not always the case. The death of Noelene Marie Beutel in 2014 points this out. Noelene was murdered by her partner Wayne McClutchie then put in the trunk of a car and lit on fire. The authorities knew that Wayne was abusing Noelene because 6 months prior to her death, police were called to their house but Noelene …show more content…
In the same year as Noelene Beutel was murdered, 11 year old Luke Batty was murdered by his abusive father Greg Anderson at a public cricket ground. Leading up to Luke's death, Rosie Batty, Luke's mother, had applied for multiple protection and restraining orders on Greg. Although Greg had outstanding warrants for his arrest and pending criminal charges over the alleged assault of a flatmate, he was still able to walk. He was shot and killed by police at the scene of the murder. If our legal system was more strict on domestic violence by not giving abusers any chances, Luke and Noelene may have still been alive
Although this law isn’t gender specific, most of the time the victims of these assaults are women and children. When looking at how serious domestic violence is, it would be thought that as soon as the authorities know that someone is being abused, they would step in a help but that's not always the case. The death of Noelene Marie Beutel in 2014 points this out. Noelene was murdered by her partner Wayne McClutchie then put in the trunk of a car and lit on fire. The authorities knew that Wayne was abusing Noelene because 6 months prior to her death, police were called to their house but Noelene …show more content…
In the same year as Noelene Beutel was murdered, 11 year old Luke Batty was murdered by his abusive father Greg Anderson at a public cricket ground. Leading up to Luke's death, Rosie Batty, Luke's mother, had applied for multiple protection and restraining orders on Greg. Although Greg had outstanding warrants for his arrest and pending criminal charges over the alleged assault of a flatmate, he was still able to walk. He was shot and killed by police at the scene of the murder. If our legal system was more strict on domestic violence by not giving abusers any chances, Luke and Noelene may have still been alive