Estimates—Attorney-General, Justice, Women and Prevention of 14 Dec 2020 1 Domestic and Family Violence (Proof) MONDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2020 _______________ ESTIMATES—LEGAL AFFAIRS AND SAFETY COMMITTEE—ATTORNEY- GENERAL, JUSTICE, WOMEN AND PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE EST IMATES—ATTORNEY-G ENER AL , JUSTICE, WOMEN AND PREVENTION OF DOM EST IC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE (PR OOF) Estimate Committee Members Mr PS Russo (Chair) Mrs LJ Gerber Ms SL Bolton Ms JM Bush Mr JE Hunt Mr AC Powell _______________ Members in Attendance Ms FS Simpson Mr TJ Nicholls Mr MC Berkman Ms RM Bates Ms A Camm Dr A MacMahon Mr DR Last _______________ In Attendance Hon. SM Fentiman, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Ms L Fraser Hardy, Chief of Staff Department of Justice and Attorney-General Mr D Mackie, Director-General Ms C Scott, Chief Financial Officer, Financial Services Branch, Corporate Services Crime and Corruption Commission Mr A MacSporran QC, Chairperson Electoral Commission of Queensland Mr P Vidgen, Electoral Commissioner The Public Trustee of Queensland Mr S Zhouand, Acting Public Trustee of Queensland _______________ The committee met at 9.00 am. CHAIR: Good morning. I declare the hearing of estimates for the Legal Affairs and Safety Committee open. I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land where we meet today. My name is Peter Russo, the member for Toohey and chair of the committee. Mrs Laura Gerber, the Estimates—Attorney-General, Justice, Women and Prevention of 2 14 Dec 2020 Domestic and Family Violence (Proof) member for Currumbin, is the deputy chair. The other committee members are: Ms Sandy Bolton, the member for Noosa, Ms Jonty Bush, the member for Cooper, Mr Jason Hunt, the member for Caloundra, and Mr Andrew Powell, the member for Glass House. The committee has granted leave for non-committee members to ask questions at the hearing today, so other members may be present over the course of the proceedings. Today, the committee will consider the Appropriation Bill (2020-21) 2020 and the estimates for the committee's areas of responsibility. I remind everyone present that any person may be excluded from the proceedings at my discretion as the chair or by order of the committee. The committee has authorised its hearing to be broadcast live, televised and photographed. Copies of the committee's conditions for broadcast of proceedings are available from the secretariat. I ask that mobile phones or other electronic devices be turned off or switched to silent mode. Also, I remind you that food and drink are not permitted in the chamber. This year, the House has determined the program for the committee's estimates hearings. Please ensure that you leave the chamber following the examination of your portfolio areas as quickly as possible so the committee can adhere to the set schedule. The committee will examine the portfolio areas in the following order: Justice and Attorney-General and associated statutory bodies from 9 to 10.30; Justice and Attorney-General from 10.45 to 12.45, Police from 1.30 to 2.45; Corrective Services from 3 to 4 pm, Fire and Emergency Services from 4.15 to 5.15. The committee will now examine the proposed expenditure in the Appropriation Bill (2020-21) 2020 for the portfolio areas of the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Women and Minister for Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence. The committee will examine the Attorney-General's portfolio until 12.45 and will suspend proceedings during this time for a short break between 10.30 and 10.45. I would also like to welcome Mr Tim Nicholls MP, the member for Clayfield, and Ms Fiona Simpson MP, the member for Maroochydore. I remind those present today that the committee's proceedings are proceedings of the Queensland parliament and are subject to the standing rules and orders of the parliament. It is important that questions and answers remain relevant and succinct. The same rules for questions that apply in parliament also apply in this hearing. I refer to standing orders 112 and 115 in this regard. Questions should be brief and relate to one issue and should not contain lengthy or subjective preambles, argument or opinion. I intend to guide these proceedings today so that the relevant issues can be explored fully without imposing artificial time limits and to ensure there is adequate opportunity to address questions from government and non-government members of the committee and visiting members. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the Attorney-General and director-general, department officers and members of the public to the hearing. For the benefit of Hansard, I ask departmental officers to identify themselves the first time they answer a question referred to them by the Attorney-General or the director-general. I now declare the proposed expenditure for the portfolio areas of Justice and Attorney-General and associated statutory bodies open for examination. The question before the committee is— That the proposed expenditure be agreed to. Attorney-General, if you wish you may make an opening statement of no more than five minutes. Thank you. Ms FENTIMAN: Thank you, Chair, and good morning to yourself and committee members. Can I start by saying what a privilege it is to be sitting here as Attorney-General to deliver my first report on the budget for the Department of Justice and Attorney-General. I am also excited about bringing to the portfolio the responsibilities of women and the prevention of domestic and family violence together with justice. I believe it will be of great benefit to the Queensland community. The budget for 2020-21 will continue the important work done in the last term of the Palaszczuk government in fostering safer communities and contributing to keeping Queenslanders safe. It will also continue with the exceptional work that was done and is continuing in the time of COVID-19. The global pandemic has had a huge impact on all of our professional and private lives during 2020. We saw an increase in demand for legal services and the subsequent need for adaptability by the justice department to respond rapidly to changing environments. In tough economic times, people need to have confidence in our legal system. The department and associated statutory bodies went above and beyond to support Queenslanders. Queensland renters who had an issue with their property who were faced with an eviction or at risk of homelessness went to Tenancy Queensland for help. We introduced support for Estimates—Attorney-General, Justice, Women and Prevention of 14 Dec 2020 3 Domestic and Family Violence (Proof) small business operators during the time of COVID-19 such as allowing licensed venues to sell takeaway liquor. The Office of Fair Trading assisted many Queenslanders who could not travel because of lockdowns and border restrictions. Queensland legal practitioners were able to use videoconferencing technology to conduct a range of transactions that usually required face-to-face meetings, while coronavirus social distancing requirements remained in place thanks to the Palaszczuk government quickly enacting legislation to support these new ways of working. It enabled the legal profession and community at large to continue to conduct important legal affairs, particularly with respect to end-of-life decision-making and estate planning. Courts used tele and videoconferencing to ensure the system did not get bogged down. It is most appropriate that the $9.3 million will be spent on further upgrading audiovisual capacity in the justice system. With the Office for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence now under the umbrella of Justice and Attorney-General, the Palaszczuk government has allocated $152 million to these two critical areas across government for this financial year. There has been an enormous amount of work and resources devoted to responding to domestic and family violence over the last five years since the release of the groundbreaking Not now, not ever report. The recommendations set the vision and direction to bring an end to domestic and family violence. This year we will see $48.5 million committed to counselling and crisis responses to ensure the safety of women and children, court based support to victims and perpetrators, service system coordination, and specialist responses for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. Some $34.3 million will be invested in women's shelters and mobile, centre based support services. Since 2015, seven new women's shelters have been funded in regional, remote and urban areas, the first new shelters in Queensland in over 20 years. The significant support extends to those experiencing sexual violence with $11.8 million being spent on 33 specialist sexual violence support services, a 95 per cent increase since 2015. Some $8.4 million has been allocated to 21 women's health and wellbeing services, the number of providers having more than doubled over the last three years. The government will continue its strong response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse through the allocation of $8.6 million and 15 full-time equivalent positions over four years to implement recommendations. In addition, $13.89 million and 86 full-time equivalent positions will help maintain the current child protection litigation model for a further 12 months. Queensland's blue card system, already acknowledged as one of the strongest in the country, will continue to provide the best possible protection for children. Another major government initiative, the Tackling Alcohol Fuelled Violence Policy, will continue to be supported in 2020-21. Chair and committee members, I look forward to building on the strong foundations laid in the 2020-21 Queensland budget.