Women’s Safety Commissioner role to drive leadership on addressing domestic violence

30 October 2023

The NSW Government is continuing to take steps to deliver on the commitment to prioritise women’s safety by becoming the first state or territory in Australia to have a stand-alone NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner.

The Women’s Safety Commissioner will spearhead leadership for a whole-of-government approach to domestic, family and sexual violence.

Domestic violence assaults and sexual assaults are the only two of the 13 major crime categories that showed an upward trend in the last five years, increasing by 13.5% and 29.8% respectively.

Previously, the NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Dr Hannah Tonkin held the dual role of Commissioner and Executive Director, Women, Family and Community Safety in the Department of Communities and Justice.

Dr Tonkin has worked at the United Nations, as Disability Rights Director at the Australian Human Rights Commission, and as a barrister in London and Adelaide.

The Commissioner will enhance the government’s focus on primary prevention and early intervention, with the specific responsibilities including.

• Provide leadership and oversight of whole-of-government policy and programs on domestic, family and sexual violence
• Monitor implementation of strategies and initiatives and provide oversight of specialist and mainstream service systems responsible for responding to domestic, family and sexual violence and harassment
• Raise awareness and promote education and public engagement to deliver improved women’s safety outcomes
• Foster collaboration and co-ordination between government and community, and give victim-survivors a greater voice.

In addition, the Commissioner will also be central to the implementation of NSW’s new coercive control laws, which will come into effect in mid-2024.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“This is an important step which demonstrates our Governments commitment to women’s safety across our state.  

“We have listened to the community’s concerns about domestic, family and sexual violence and we are taking a whole-of-government approach to addressing this scourge.

“We are bringing this crisis to the fore to include it in every conversation and every action we take as a government.

“No one should have to live in fear, which is why we are continuing to invest in prevention and work across government to ensure the needs of victim-survivors are being heard and met.”

NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Dr Tonkin said:

“Domestic, family and sexual violence has a devastating impact on victim-survivors and the broader community.

“The creation of the stand-alone Commissioner role will ensure that I am best positioned to deliver this significant remit and drive change to improve women’s safety, by strengthening interagency coordination and collaboration across government.”

CEO Domestic Violence NSW Delia Donovan said:

“NSW is showing strong national leadership on responding to domestic, family and sexual violence.

“This move recognises the critical need for strong and focused leadership across all government agencies, working in close collaboration with the domestic, family and sexual violence sector.”