About the Commission of Inquiry

This Commission of Inquiry was set up following recommendations made in the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce: Hear her voice Report One—Addressing coercive control and domestic and family violence in Queensland.

On 10 May 2022, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced an independent Commission of Inquiry into Queensland Police Service responses to domestic and family violence as recommended by the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce.

Also on 10 May 2022, the Government provided its response to the report including supporting recommendation 2, to establish a Commission of Inquiry to ensure full public confidence in the ability of our police to protect victims and to hold perpetrators to account. Read the response to the recommendations.

Her Honour Judge Deborah Richards was appointed as the Commissioner for the Inquiry.

The Commission commenced on 30 May 2022.

In summary, the Commission of Inquiry examined:

• whether there is, and if so, the extent and nature of, any cultural issues within the Queensland Police Service that negatively affects police investigations of domestic and family violence
• if there are any cultural issues, whether these cultural issues have contributed to the overrepresentation of First Nations people in the criminal justice system
• the capability, capacity and structure of the Queensland Police Service to respond to domestic and family violence, and
• the adequacy of the current conduct and complaints handling processes against police officers.

In carrying out the Inquiry, the Commission took into account the findings and recommendations of the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce Reports, the Not Now, Not ever: Putting an End to Domestic Violence in Queensland Report and any other relevant findings, reports, research and expert advice.

The Commission also took into account previous relevant coronial findings, complaints made to the police and the Crime and Corruption Commission in relation to the police handling of domestic and family violence matters, and relevant submissions already made to the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce.

The Terms of Reference required the Commission to focus on examining the systemic matters affecting the capacity of the Queensland Police Service to respond to domestic and family violence and to make recommendations about how to address any issues identified in that examination particularly having regard to the extent of any cultural issues identified.

The Commission welcomed submissions from interested parties who had information that may assist the Commission with regard to any cultural issues that may exist as a barrier to optimal investigation of domestic and family violence matters.

The Commission’s Report was handed to the Premier and Minister for Olympics, the Attorney-General and Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, and Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services on 14 November 2022.