The appointment of retiring Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay and 2015 Australian of the Year Rosie Batty as founding members of an advisory panel to the Council of Australian Governments agenda to direct on the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, was announced in a statement by Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Wednesday. 

WRISC family violence support chief executive Libby Jewson said the appointment was reflective of  Victoria leading the way in tackling family violence. 

“Victoria is doing things that other states aren’t, for example the royal commission. I know that we are looking at other ways more openly than other states.”

Ms Jewson said the most important factor of the national plan was to ensure that related agencies and organisations worked together.

Mr Abbott also admitted in his statement: “The current system is fragmented. We must ensure systems across Australia work effectively to provide better, more integrated support to women and we must simplify the complex maze of services victims of domestic and family violence are expected to navigate.”

Ballarat White Ribbon Day co-ordinator Bob Maika said Ms Batty would provide a “local voice” to the panel.

“It’s a tragic set of circumstances that has brought Rosie Batty to the fore. But since that event, Rosie has spoken out and very eloquently,” Mr Maika said.

As part of the national plan, the advisory panel will direct states and territories on the implementation of schemes including the Domestic Violence Order scheme.

Under the scheme, if a protection order is issued in one state, it will apply in all states.

The five national priorities of the plan, agreed by the states and territories, are:

• Driving whole of community action to prevent violence;

• Understanding of the diverse experiences of violence;

• Supporting innovative services and integrated systems;

• Improving perpetrator interventions; and

• Continuing to build the evidence base.

david.jeans@fairfaxmedia.com.au