“The system is failing”: Zali Steggall calls for royal commission into domestic violence

Following the murder of three in a central west New South Wales town, Warringah MP Zali Steggall has called on the prime minister to establish a royal commission into domestic violence “as a matter of urgency”.

What happened: NSW Police are currently searching for a 37 year old man accused of murdering a man and two women — one of whom was seven months pregnant — in Lake Cargelligo last Thursday. Police are regarding the shooting as a domestic violence incident.

Steggall urges investigation: Over the weekend, Zali Steggall, Member for Warringah, responded to the incident by urging for a federal royal commission into domestic violence, claiming “incremental reform has not worked”.

• “Routinely when this happens, we are told the same thing: the offender was not deemed a serious risk and was complying with bail conditions”, said Steggall. “Clearly, those assessments are wrong. The laws are not working”. 

Support grows: Steggall's calls follow similar campaigning from Australian Femicide Watch founder, Sherele Moody, who on the 24th of January launched a petition calling for a royal commission “into the killing of Australian women and girls”. The petition has amassed over 24,000 signatures.

What now: Currently, Steggall stands alone in parliament on this. Bradfield MP Nicolette Boele told the Lorikeet that while she supports “renewed efforts that treat this crisis with the gravity it warrants” she would not currently back Steggall's call without first seeing "clear and effective" terms of reference.

The Members for Berowra and Bennelong were approached for comment. 

This article has been amended to accurately reflect the Member for Bradfield’s position on a royal commission.

Thumbnail: The RED HEART Movement’s Memorial to Women and Children Lost to Violence