• $7 million Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme.

• ‘Right to ask’ and ‘right to know’ laws to expose dangerous offenders.

• $7 million specialised Family Violence Unit.

• Cross-agency co-ordinated response to best serve victims and their families.

The WA Liberals today confirmed their commitment to reducing domestic violence in Western Australia with a promise to introduce a Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme and to establish a specialised Family Violence Unit within the Department of Justice.

WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam said an alarming increase in rates of domestic violence across WA meant preventing domestic violence and supporting the victims of domestic violence would be priority issues for a Mettam Liberal Government.

“The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) will allow police to disclose information to a victim or potential victim of domestic abuse about their partner’s or ex-partner’s previous abusive or violent offending,” she said.

“The scheme is based on the two broad principles of, the right to know, and the right to ask, and is designed to provide information that might help prevent someone becoming a victim of domestic violence.

“A right-to-ask application could be made by any individual, including someone living with violence or someone who has reason to feel they, or someone they know, is at risk.

"A right-to-know request occurs when the police proactively disclose information to protect a potential victim from harm. This process is guided by a thorough risk assessment, ensuring that individuals at high risk are informed and supported in making decisions about their safety.

The first DVDS scheme internationally was Clare’s Law, which was rolled out across England and Wales in March 2014. Further schemes have since been adopted in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and in some Australian states.

The $7 million cost of the scheme includes $3 million for set-up costs, including training for police officers, public awareness campaigns and administration, with a further $1 million a year for four years to maintain the scheme.

The WA Liberals also committed to establishing a specialised Family Violence Unit within the Department of Justice to significantly enhance the response to domestic violence through dedicated resources and expertise.

Shadow Attorney General the Hon Nick Goiran MLC said the unit would be staffed with a multidisciplinary team, including domestic violence officers, social workers, legal experts, and psychologists, all receiving extensive and ongoing training in handling domestic violence cases.

“This team of professionals, which will include an integrated police response unit, will ensure sensitive and expert handling of incidents and coordination with other agencies, like child protection services and healthcare providers, to offer comprehensive support for victims,” he said.

“The team will be created by the amalgamation of existing services with a budgeted cost of $7 million over four years, including $3 million set up and $1 million a year in operating costs."

Mr Goiran also said the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme would give potential victims the power to keep themselves safe.

“Too often we hear from friends and families that they could see the signs of domestic violence but were powerless to do anything – this scheme gives them the power to do something and potentially save a life,” he said.

WA Liberals candidate for South Perth Bronwyn Waugh said a specialised Family Violence Unit would give victims the co-ordinated response they needed at a time of extreme trauma.

“Victims of domestic violence need to know that not only will police respond appropriately but that all the agencies of government are being pulled together to give them the support they need,” she said.

Ms Mettam said the Labor Government had an appalling record on domestic violence, with the state recording a 68 per cent increase in breaches of Family Violence Restraining Orders since 2017.

“You only need to know that WA is the most unsafe state in the nation in which to be a woman to know that this Labor Government has swept the scourge of domestic violence under the carpet like a bad little family secret,” Ms Mettam said.