Zonta Club of Brisbane hosts breakfast with guest speakers to address domestic and family violence

The Zonta Club of Brisbane held a highly successful Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month breakfast at Queensland Parliament House on 12 May to bring to light key issues around steps being taken to stop domestic and family violence in Queensland, Australia.

The breakfast was attended by senior Queensland government ministers, members of parliament and other distinguished leaders who have dedicated part of their lives to understanding and addressing domestic and family violence.

The keynote speaker at the event was Shannon Fentiman, MP, Attorney-General & Minister for Justice, Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Prevention. Fentiman is leading the Queensland government’s extensive program which aims to end domestic and family violence. It includes the establishment of a Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce, which is chaired by the Hon Margaret McMurdo AC and member of the Zonta Club of Brisbane. Following her address, Fentiman took questions from the floor, which included queries about the need for a register to track previous domestic violence orders. 

After the event, the Fentiman announced that the Queensland government was considering a domestic violence register hotline. This would be raised through the work of the Taskforce and potentially discussed at the Australian Women’s Safety Summit in Australia in June 2021 to form a national approach to women’s safety. 

The club’s president, Gwendolen Jull, addressed the breakfast, which was also attended by the Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll, Zonta District 22 Governor Bridget Mather, PIP Leneen Forde and club members.