NSW Government gives reassurance, but blocks solutions
The Domestic Violence epidemic continues to rage. The Government points to increased enforcement activities as its primary solution, as if that can make the community safer.
This is a smokescreen. As the government well knows, this approach has failed to date, and will continue to fail, to bring the DV rates down.
The government is giving us reassurance, in the guise of protection.
But it gets worse. Not only is the Government not providing effective DV counselling to the increasing numbers of people in prison for DV: it won’t let prisoners access such counselling from external providers, even though it is available at no charge to the government.
Alarming DV Statistics
The latest Domestic Violence numbers for NSW are out:
- DV related incidents rose 9.8% in the 2 years to December 2025
- Reports of intimidation, stalking and harassment have surged in the past 10 years, with almost 20,000 more incidents reported in 2025 than in 2016
- An average rise of 2.9% in domestic violence related incidents over the last 10 years
- 32 victims of DV murder in 2025.
Do these numbers show we have a crisis? Yes.
Does the Government admit that? No.
The NSW Government tells us it’s good news!
“This new data is encouraging”,
Jodie Harrison, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.[1]
“This data shows our tough bail reforms and other measures targeting domestic violence offenders are working”.
Michael Daley, Attorney General[2]
“Working”?! Let’s stop and think about that.
In what sense are these measures “working”? It’s certainly not reducing DV incidents, and no-one, not even the Government, says it will. The Government’s “good news” spin serves to distract us from the darker truth; which is more people are being arrested and locked away and later released to re-offend. We are not being protected; merely reassured.
Reassurance is not enough
They’re hoping we’ll feel safer, and not look too closely at whether we are safer. Because we aren’t, and won’t be any time soon.
We won’t be safer until DV rates actually go down. For DV rates to go down, many people have to change their behaviour. Simply locking offenders away for a period does not change their attitudes, skills, and behaviours.
The Government knows this.
“We must continue to drive down incidents of domestic and family violence by stopping the violence before it starts. That’s why we are investing in earlier intervention, primary prevention and developing a better understanding of the perpetration to violence.”
Jodie Harrison, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.[3]
This means we need to change the behaviour of current and potential perpetrators: this can include changing their thinking, giving them skills in dealing with the pressures of living, and custom counselling from people the offenders can trust. Obviously, the need for behavioural change doesn’t stop at the prison gate.
So why does the government pretend that punishment can be the answer? Prisons aren’t cheap. What are we getting for our money? We should expect more.
This could become good news …
This is where all those arrests and detentions could lead to outcomes that might, in truth, be “encouraging”; that might actually “work” to reduce Domestic Violence, and make us safer. They have created a concentration of people who would benefit most from DV behaviour-change counselling, and who have the (enforced) time available to receive and absorb it. Literally, a captive audience. There are providers ready to give such counselling; it could be delivered by the tablets that NSW prisoners already have in their cells.
“Our facilitators help participants understand the causes of violent behaviour and habits”,
Relationships Australia
The Government must allow prisoners to receive such counselling. We are not asking the Government to provide the counselling themselves, or even to pay for it.[4] Just stop blocking it. Just FLIP THE SWITCH and let it flow.
The Government must evolve to protect us and not just provide reassurance: stop trying to MAKE US FEEL SAFER, while blocking the measures that can MAKE US SAFER. The community is watching victim numbers grow, and seeing no real outcome on the Government’s behalf.
[1] NSW Government Communities and Justice
[2] NSW Government Communities and Justice
[3] NSW Government Communities and Justice
[4] Relationships Australia NSW