Pauline Hanson backed Brotherhood of Fathers wants Family Law Act amended to add ‘low-risk DV’

A “men’s activist” group backed by Pauline Hanson is using a Federal parliamentary inquiry to call for the creation of a “low-risk category” of domestic violence in a move safety advocates fear is minimising the nature of abuse. In its submission to the inquiry into the family law system, men’s activist group the Brotherhood of Fathers called for the Family Law Act to be amended to include a new definition of family violence to “provide for a categorisation ... according to severity and risk”. It stated the need for the “establishment of a low-risk category that includes behaviour that is: situational, separation/relationship breakdown instigated, mutual, not part of a pattern or exercise of control, represents no risk in relation to parenting or child access issues”. It comes after the Law Council of Australia said it had concerns the inquiry, which is being deputy chaired by Senator Hanson, was “being used for political purposes” to undermine domestic violence claims made by women. Campaigner and former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty had also called for the One Nation leader to be removed. Senator Hanson has been criticised for her comments that people are “lying” about domestic violence to advantage themselves in the Family Court. This is not backed up by research. Laura Bos, chair of Small Steps 4 Hannah, a foundation set up to honour murdered Brisbane woman Hannah Clarke and her three children, said she was concerned about the notion of creating a “less serious” legal category of domestic violence. “We're trying to educate people about domestic violence and what it is and these sorts of parameters don’t help,” she said. “This has been one of the things that has been well known as a problem. People don’t think something is domestic violence when it actually is. It starts to muddy the water. “The bottom line is domestic violence is domestic violence. It is up to the court through sentencing and orders to determine the severity, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t domestic violence.” WA Labor MP Dr Anne Aly, who yesterday heard evidence from the Brotherhood of Father's, said she there needed to be a “zero tolerance” approach to domestic violence. “The minute we start talking about degrees and situations we start to sanction it,” she said. National Domestic Violence Counselling Service 1800RESPECT