Hidden Report Shows Domestic Violence Victims Felt Let Down by Police

A report written by domestic violence survivors in Queensland, Australia, was given to the government but never shared with the public. The group, called the Lived Experience Working Group, met three times in early 2025 to talk about how victims of domestic violence were being let down. Their report found serious problems with how police and other services treated people who needed help. The government kept the report secret, saying it needed to protect the privacy of the group's members.

The group was set up in February 2025 by Amanda Camm, the minister in charge of preventing domestic and family violence. The survivors were asked to look at why victims were falling through the gaps — meaning they were not getting the help they needed. After three meetings, the group wrote a report about what they found. Only a short summary was shared with government departments and a few other organizations, but it was not released to the general public.

The summary said the system for helping domestic violence victims was fragmented, which means it was broken up into many disconnected parts that did not work well together. Victims faced barriers — or obstacles — that were both about rules and about attitudes. Problems included police responses that were not consistent, a lack of support sensitive to different cultures, and people using the system against the very victims it was meant to help. Housing problems and money troubles also made life harder for survivors.

The sharpest criticism in the report was aimed at the Queensland Police Service. The group said police reacted differently to domestic violence complaints depending on which officer showed up, making victims feel their safety was just a matter of luck. Group members also said they were put off from making complaints when they felt police were not taking their concerns seriously. The group recommended that a team of non-police civilians be given the power to review complaints about police behavior.

Survivors were also upset about delays in charging people who broke domestic violence orders, which are legal rules meant to keep victims safe. They said that when an abuser had a regular, predictable routine, police should have been able to act faster. These delays made victims lose trust in the police's ability to protect them. The report also looked at other services like child protection, mental health support, housing, and legal aid.

The survivors said they felt dismissed and ignored by the very systems that were supposed to help them. They described being sent around in circles as they tried to find support on their own. The report found that too much of the burden was placed on victims to seek out help themselves, instead of services reaching out to them. This added extra stress to people who were already in dangerous situations.

Since the group finished its work, Queensland police have shut down their special domestic violence unit. Police said that managing cases was not part of their core business, meaning they did not see it as their main job. This decision came after a review found that the service had taken on too many tasks outside its main role. Critics say this move makes things even harder for domestic violence victims who rely on police for safety.

When asked about the report, Minister Camm said the government was working hard to fix the problem. She pointed to record spending on shelters, affordable housing, and more police officers as proof of the government's commitment. She also said the government had improved a domestic violence phone helpline called DV Connect, raising the rate of calls answered from about 42 percent to 84 percent. The government said it was focused on improving services and giving victims a stronger voice.