Stop the cycle of domestic violence

Dear Mr Michael Crandon,

As you are the current elected member of Coomera which encompassed the suburb of Pimpama, I am writing a passionate plea to you to review what can be done to stop the domestic violence that is not just rampant in Australian Homes, but specifically in your district.

I have a friend who has lived in your district for a number of years currently going through the domestic violence. She gathered what strength she had left to make changes to her life, first filing a Temporary Protection Order and then a Domestic Violence Order (DVO) to ensure that she is protected. Everything was done by the book.

We thought the system was on the side of protecting women - after all, politician after politician use this issue as a platform to great soundbite. 

In reality, even when her violent ex-husband tried to kick her in front of her police escort - present so that she could gather whatever possession he hasn't destroyed so she can escape, he was not apprehended. He was left with a caution.

Today, after her DVO hearing (where he caused scenes in the corridor, bullied the two children to miss school to attend court with him), he slashed her tyres and again threatened her. He is a smart son of a gun - he uses the kid's email addresses to threaten her so that the Police can't do anything about it. The Police are too lazy to begin any preliminary investigations that would easily see through this facade.

After the death of Teresa Bradford at the hands of her husband, despite all the evidence of her being in danger, let me ask you this:

How do women protect themselves?

Seriously, because she has tried everything. She has gone to the courts and the Police repeatedly. If not for her friends, she wouldn't have made it this far.

DVO is a piece of paper that does NOTHING to protect women. The Police rarely enforce them, and it is always after the fact. After they have driven their fists against women's flesh.

How many more women have to die before Lawmakers and Politicians truly care and make changes? Posters and school awareness are not enough. Polite and politically correct conversations have gotten us nowhere. Now, because children are continuously forced to be with these monsters, they have been taught violence is the norm and the cycle of violence lives on in younger generations.

I challenge you to look around your district and find a handful of similar cases where protection of women was actually achieved. I think you will find that they are in the minority.