The Queensland Police Commissioner attempted to access the confidential domestic violence records of a female officer who alleged she had been subject to violence by her husband. The state’s chief magistrate denied the police access to these documents, ruling that it could deter victims from seeking help due to the fear of “reprisal applications” or disciplinary action. The judgment outlined allegations by the female officer that her husband had subjected her to alarming acts of violence, including going through her phone, controlling her finances, and threatening to end her police career by taking out a domestic violence order against her. Despite the woman’s concerns and the police service’s investigation into the allegations, the magistrate refused to release the documents to avoid undermining the protections of the Domestic and Family Violence Act. The chief magistrate warned that such action could discourage others from seeking protection from domestic violence, endangering their safety and possibly that of their children. The ruling highlighted that there is a significant issue with the fear of retaliatory action deterring victims from seeking the protection they need. A spokesperson for the Queensland Police Service confirmed that seeking the confidential information was standard procedure, but the service accepts the court’s decision and will not comment further due to legal proceedings and privacy considerations.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/02/queensland-police-commissioner-tried-to-access-records-of-alleged-domestic-violence-victim-to-investigate-her-ntwnfb