Jules, "Nothing to weasel out of here to let thugs get away with "doing their block" but what if the basher isn't convicted? Have you entertained that possibility?..I suspect not. What brilliant policy do you have for that situation? Maybe a retrial? Cycle rinse until convicted?

Hilly I agree with most of your post except the last line reflects the big issue with this topic "Instead of debating the matter ask women who have been involved why they feel so let down by authorities and government.".
If you think women who have had a physically abusive spouse feel let down by authorities and government I can assure you the let down is far worse for men. The issues around the violence may be different (although not as different as most assume). Women appear to have more serious fear for their safety, men's lives are at direct risk at a lower rate. Men living with violence they can get almost no support to have stopped and where any attempts to defend themselves (or even call the police) leaves them at risk of being considered the abuser. Living with the risk that if they walk out the abuser is likely to get custody of the children.

I have you to see any serious research on the relationship between men as victims DV and male suicide rates but personally suspect it's a not insignificant factor.

The big risk on calls for tougher justice is that it's against a backdrop where most are in denial that females can be violent to their partners, where most have a stereotype of dominating male abusing woman so firmly fixed in their minds that they can't consider that may not be the norm of DV.

Tougher justice in a society where DV is framed so successfully by paternalist's and feminists alike as violence against women that most unless they have had reason to look closer can't comprehend the rest of the story.

If women are feeling let down, they have been let down by those seeking to back up an ideology of male domination by lies and misinterpretation of DV whilst hindering genuine research into causes and better options to deal with it.

There is no one size fits all but there is a large correlation between prevalence of DV and to issues such as like mental illness, substance abuse, unemployment etc.

R0bert

In today's news:

"A man, 22, was rushed to Townsville Hospital and is in a critical condition after being stabbed in the chest after a heated argument at a house in Valencia St.

A woman, 26, was arrested and charged with grievous bodily harm and breach of a domestic violence order over the attack."

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/kirwan-woman-charged-after-man-rushed-to-townsville-hospital-with-stab-wound/news-story/18bc505712da021f88dc9e5806fd3f4e

If convicted maybe this would be a good case for introducing tougher penalties. What do you think Ms Pullos?

Roscop: A good case indeed if the stabbing wasn't self-defence during a physical assault on the woman. Having "broken the ice" by banging up a female perp to soothe male perps' feelings of "victimhood" then the practice of indefinitely gaoling violent domestic bullies irrespective of gender could be launched all over Australia. End of the unnecessary DV epidemic, back to tackling real social issues that aren't as easily solved.

Julian, what is this qualification " if the stabbing wasn't self-defence during a physical assault on the woman"? I always thought you were an ultra tough "no excuses" man. I'm surprised you don't seem to be aware of one of the basic tenets of the DV industry...which is "there is no excuse for domestic violence".

Now if Cassandra had left out the "domestic" bit & just called for tougher & more immediate penalties for all violence I would be right behind her. It is time our fool magistrates stopped letting violent people out on bail, & our parole boards stopped letting them out of prison, too early. See a report on an off duty cop, stabbed between the eyes by a young vicious hood home invader, let out on bail twice in the preceding couple of weeks.

What the hell are our magistrates on, it must be pretty hallucinogenic, going by their behaviour & rulings. I personally see no difference whether it is a stranger, cop, friend or spouse, if some fool bashes anyone, they should be held where they can do no further harm until brought to trial.

However my bulldust detector raises like the hackles on a cranky dog, when some womens liber Family Law specialist makes this type of call restricted to "domestic' violence matters. Having watched a few divorce proceedings, I would not trust a divorce lawyer as far as I could kick them