FAMILY AND DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE — VICTIM ARREST WARRANTS
536. Hon COLIN TINCKNELL to the Leader of the House
representing the Attorney General:
Given that the WA Police Force was
forced by an order from the Midland Magistrates Court to arrest Kearah Ronan, a
six-month pregnant mother and alleged victim of family and domestic violence,
after the court registry had been informed that she was unwell, how will this
Parliament and the McGowan government ensure that this heavy-handed and
completely unnecessary treatment never happens again to any alleged victim or
witness of family and domestic violence, let alone one who is six months
pregnant?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
The decision to issue the arrest warrant for Ms Ronan was
made by an independent judicial officer on application of the police
prosecutor. The Attorney General has requested that the Acting Commissioner for
Victims of Crime investigate the practice of issuing arrest warrants for the
victims of domestic violence and make recommendations for future practice. The
acting commissioner will consult with the Western Australia Police Force in the
conduct of this investigation.
Lastly, the McGowan government looks forward to the
commencement of the custody notification service in the second half of this
year. The CNS will provide a 24-hour welfare and legal advice phone line for
Aboriginal people taken into police custody and will also provide appropriate
safeguards for Aboriginal people in custody.