Queensland needs an inquiry into police domestic violence mindset

These last few months of the year are the most dangerous for women due to a volatile mixture of pent-up aggression around the AFL and NRL grand finals, failed Melbourne Cup bets, Christmas financial struggles and family pressures, increased alcohol consumption, summer heat and frustrated couples venting at one another.

Too many men are resorting to their fists to deal with their issues and it's time society treated such actions as serious criminal assaults, and made the punishments match the crime.

There is a myth that is perpetuated that it is the Family Court or children being withheld from time with their fathers, that drives men to kill women. This is just not borne out by recent murders which have happened soon after separation.

It's time to stop being soft on domestic violence perpetrators. Charge them with the most serious crimes, make sure the punishments fit those crimes and ensure they can no longer attack and kill their partners.

As we head toward the Christmas season where domestic violence attacks soar, the public more than ever looks to our police for protection but right now public confidence in our police attitude toward domestic violence victims is zero with a strong element of disgust added.

The challenge to our lawmakers is to make domestic violence a serious crime and to our police, you have to win back the trust of the people you have sworn to protect.