Bendigo residents are still reeling from a recent alleged family violence incident which sparked an outpouring of grief and anger in the city, The Nationals MP Gaelle Broad told Parliament this week.
Speaking on new legislation which will make non-fatal strangulation a stand-alone offence, Ms Broad said the issues were very raw and painful for the Bendigo community right now.
“On October 29, Analyn ‘Logee’ Osias was allegedly fatally assaulted in her own home while her two young daughters were present. She later died in hospital. Her former partner has been charged with murder. He was on bail at the time,” Ms Broad told Parliament.
A public vigil was held for Logee on November 2.
Ms Broad said Victoria was the last state to bring this legislation into effect, despite overwhelming evidence that it saves lives.
“This has been a very long time coming. It was recommended in a coroner’s report of 2018.
“On 1 July 2019 the Labor Government confirmed it would introduce legislation to implement this recommendation. Here we are four years later.”
The legislation passed the Parliament yesterday, November 30, and will create two new offences.
First, an offence of intentional non-fatal strangulation, which does not require proof of injury will carry a maximum five-year prison term.
A second more serious offence of non-fatal strangulation where a perpetrator intentionally causes injury, will be created with a maximum penalty of 10 years.
“Every week in Australia around one woman is killed in a family or gendered violence incident. This is simply unacceptable,” Ms Broad said.
The Bendigo-based Centre for Non Violence told Ms Broad there was ‘unequivocal evidence’ that non-fatal strangulation was a red flag for those most at risk of future abuse, harm or homicide.
A study by the University of Melbourne and the University of Queensland found up to three quarters of women escaping domestic violence reported a history of non-fatal strangulation by their partner.
CNV reported that if a victim-survivor experienced strangulation from an abusive partner, they were at least six to seven times more likely than other victim-survivors to experience death or serious harm in the weeks that follow.
“Last Friday people gathered at the Bendigo Town Hall to mark the launch of the global campaign, 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The program will run until December 10.
On Tuesday Ms Broad joined MPs in Queen’s Hall in Parliament House to stand against gender-based violence. Pairs of orange shoes were placed for each woman lost to family violence so far this year.
“There are no easy answers to these complex and distressing issues, but we must do what we can to move towards better outcomes for the women and children still trapped in a web of family violence today. We owe it to all of them, and we owe it to Logee and her daughters,” Ms Broad said.
Photo caption: Gaelle Broad (left) joins MPs in Parliament House in a stand against family violence. A pair of orange shoes represents every woman lost to family violence this year.
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
