There was a unanimous showing of hands at the Country Women's Association of NSW annual general meeting this week as the powerful voice from the bush backed urgent and greater controls for perpetrators of domestic violence.
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The motion of urgency was triggered by a national emergency of recent violence and was lodged only the day before the AGM opened doors to 211 branches represented from across the state.
Specifically the motion asked for changes to bail laws - provided these do not encumber the safety of women and children and to strengthen the protection of victims as well as record, share and track perpetrators.
Speaking for the motion, executive representatives from Murrumbidgee Lachlan group, highlighted 2023 figures showing regional NSW murders as a result of domestic violence had increased by 7.6 per cent compared to a 6pc rise in greater Sydney.
Domestic violence crime in the far west and Orana regions were 3.8 times that of Sydney while the New England and North West recorded double the city rate.
Despite the increasing rates of violence just 12pc of offenders were sentenced in 2023, an increase of just one per cent on the year before.
The CWA call for greater government funding for victims of violence came on the same day that the state government pledged $230 million for new initiatives in this space, building on $925m from the federal government.
The galling figures exposing the number of women killed at the hands of their domestic partner had been one every 10 days or 36 a year but recent events had lifted that crime rate to one death every four days, according to visiting Regional Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison.
Ms Aitchison, minister for transport, was speaking for the minister for women and prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault Jodie Harrison, who was not able to attend the Coffs Harbour event, despite being booked to speak, because of the immediacy of new funding promises
"Early intervention is crucial," Ms Aitchison said.
"We are looking at changing bail laws but don't want unintended consequences as too many women are now in jail for fighting back."
State social issues officer Leonie Fish said the causes of domestic violence needed to be investigated.
"It is a lack of kindness, and a lack of empathy that is at the root of this problem," she said.
