Senators Say Domestic Violence Victims Need Protection When Making Police Reports

Isabel Bennett

Senators for the People’s United Party showed support for the Domestic Violence motion. Senator Isabel Bennett spoke on the need to establish great support avenues for perpetrators of domestic violence.

Isabel Bennett, P.U.P. Senator

“I keep hearing that it is the government responsibility, but there are many organizations out there support victims, but there is not enough support for perpetrators, and perpetrators can’t get the help they need. This is where collectively as individuals, we can start examining ourselves. Because if the statistics are true, at some point in this humble chamber and it is frightening, it is alarming, that some one of us can be a perpetrator or victim. So collectively, retrospectively, every single individual has to ask themselves, am I an abuser? Any given time we can go home with levels of work related stress and that can trigger off into your family system and you end up having to abuse your wife, and regrettably instead of having to think otherwise, you end up causing harm and then that becomes an incident.”

Eamon Courtenay, Senator for Government Business

Eamon Courtenay

“What this nation witnessed is exactly what every Senator who has spoken today has condemned and criticized. We saw with concern a victim going to the police station to make a statement, and the same criticism is that the right place? Was she protected? How did she feel? Was it necessary for her to be accompanied by a lawyer? But the deeper complaint, we all saw persons allowed to go into the police station to pressure her, and to interfere with the process. We witnessed, Madam President, a withdrawal which happens far too often. Senators have identified why, mostly women, find it necessary or are forced to withdraw. Lack of support, not only financial support, but other type of support that people go through and suffer and don’t have and so have to find themselves going right back to the venue where they know what is going to happen. Yet, a professional, a self accomplished woman, because of the circumstances swirling around her and the pressures ended up withdrawing. The statement that was broadcasting widely on social media, and as a country, we must ask ourselves, how is that our system allowed those circumstances to go unpunished?”