Queensland Minister Under Fire Over DV Funding Cuts Amid Alleged Murder of Young Mum

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Amanda Camm, Queensland's domestic and family violence minister, has come under fire after the state government cut $38.5 million from the domestic and family violence sector amid the alleged murder of a 30-year-old Toowoomba woman, Jana Armstrong.

Amanda Camm serves as both the domestic and family violence minister and the child safety minister. Camm was appointed to her role in the 2024 state election, which saw the Liberal National Party (LNP) come to power.

The alleged murder of Jana Armstrong follows the discovery of her body in bushland over the weekend, with her former partner accused of murdering the young mother and dumping her body in bushland. Armstrong's sister, Faith Isaacs, has spoken out against the budget cuts, calling them 'unbelievable.'

Camm defended the government's decision to cut funding, stating that the money was allocated through the Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce, an initiative of the former Labor government. However, opposition spokesperson for women, Shannon Fentiman, has called on Premier David Crisafulli to strip Camm of the portfolio over the cuts.

The number of full-time equivalent staff attached to DFV prevention was slated to drop from 93 to 81. The state government had budgeted $379 million for the prevention of domestic and family violence last financial year but only allocated $340 million for this year.

Camm said that the government was 'on track to deliver all recommendations' from the taskforce despite having no publicly available reporting system to track progress. The taskforce was established to address domestic and family violence in Queensland and deliver recommendations to the government.

'All of the recommendations are now part of our government's domestic and family violence strategy,' Camm said.

Armstrong's family attended the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday for the accused's mention, and were asked after the hearing about the budget cuts. Camm offered her condolences to Armstrong's family, stating that it was 'tragic' what had occurred in Toowoomba.

What's Next

The case is ongoing with the accused's bail hearing scheduled to take place in the coming weeks. Camm has come under pressure to step down from her portfolios over the budget cuts.

Government Response

Camm's office has been contacted for further information on the cuts to funding, but has yet to provide a response. The Queensland government has been criticized for its handling of domestic and family violence, with some calling for a comprehensive review of the sector.

Australian Context

Domestic and family violence is a significant issue in Australia, with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reporting that in 2020-21, there were over 11,000 police-reported domestic violence offenses in Queensland. The Queensland government has committed to reducing domestic and family violence by 2027 through the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy.

The Queensland government's decision to cut funding to the domestic and family violence sector has been met with criticism from opposition parties and advocacy groups. The cuts come as the alleged murder of Jana Armstrong highlights the severity of domestic and family violence in Queensland.