“It's pervasive, it's insidious and it's got to be stopped - violence against women is one of the gravest human rights challenges of our time”.
Dame Quentin Bryce
(Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland, 2015)

Alarmed at the high number of domestic and family violence incidents being reported in Queensland, the State Government established a taskforce to examine Queensland’s domestic and family violence support systems and make recommendations to the Premier on what improvements could be made and how future incidents of domestic violence could be prevented.
Aurukun Local Commissioner Ada Woolla received an invitation directly from the office of the Premier to participate and become a member of the taskforce.
The Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland was convened on 10 September 2014 with the Honourable Quentin Bryce AD CVO, former Governor-General of Australia, appointed as Chair.
Along with the Taskforce, Commissioner Woolla travelled throughout the state listening to Queenslanders whose lives have been impacted by domestic and family violence, and how it affects those who work with them. Through online survey’s, focus groups, round table discussions, submissions and group meetings, Commissioner Woolla and the Taskforce members heard stories of harm and trauma.
During the course of the review Commissioner Woolla also joined the Taskforce and some of Queensland’s leading experts on domestic and family violence at two summits, in Brisbane on 27 October 2014 and Townsville on 4 November 2014.
Commissioner Woolla valued the opportunity of being involved in the gathering of insight and information, and assisting in contributing toward recommendations to Queensland’s Premier for a strategy to stop domestic and family violence.
‘Not Now, Not Ever’, the report on putting an end to domestic and family violence in Queensland, was handed to Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk on 28 April 2015. The Report made 140 recommendations with a long term vision - “where all Queenslanders can live free from violence from a partner or family member, and where children do not have to see or experience family violence” (Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland, 2015).
“People from all cultures can no longer be allowed to excuse domestic and family violence by misrepresenting ‘their Culture and/or past Cultural practices’. We have spent more than enough time and effort defining and explaining Domestic Violence. Wherever it occurs, those responsible must be immediately held accountable and re-educated to understand their behaviour cannot be repeated, and those who suffer the consequences, counselled and supported. It is the responsibility of Government to provide the framework and resources for this to occur.” 
Ms Ada Panawya Woolla, Aurukun Local Commissioner, Family Responsibilities Commission