In a state where family violence continues to rise, it is profoundly unsettling that Victoria Police has chosen to reject a recommendation that could save lives.
The proposal, put forward by State Coroner John Cain, is simple yet vital: warn victims of family violence at least 48 hours before their abuser is released from custody. Instead, the police force has declared that it lacks the resources to offer such alerts, citing issues such as victims changing their phone numbers or screening their calls.
This excuse is not only weak — it’s dangerous.
The murder of Noeline Dalzell in 2020 by her abusive ex-partner, James Fairhall, is a case that underscores the fatal consequences of inaction. Fairhall had a documented history of violence, had breached court orders, and had been released from jail just three months before stabbing Noeline to death in front of their three children. Yet police failed to act on a warrant for his arrest or notify Noeline of his release.
What message does this send to the thousands of women across Victoria who live in fear of a former partner? That their safety is negotiable? That notifying them isn’t worth the effort?
Currently, victims must opt-in to the Victorian Victims Register to be notified of their abuser’s release. But relying solely on victims to register themselves shifts the burden unfairly. It assumes they have the knowledge, resources, and emotional capacity to navigate a complex system while living in fear. And it assumes the state can offload responsibility for their safety.
Jenny Dalzell, Noeline’s sister-in-law, put it best: “They’re entitled to know that a person who killed their mother is being released.” She’s right. This is not about convenience — it’s about the fundamental right to safety and information.
Victoria Police’s failure is not just a matter of resourcing. It’s a systemic refusal to prioritise the safety of women and children. If the force is too under-resourced to notify a woman that her violent ex is returning to the street, then the system is broken. And it must be fixed — urgently.
We need a coordinated framework, one that ensures victims are informed, supported, and protected. Anything less is a betrayal.
Until that happens, the question remains: when the system knows, but the victim doesn’t, who will be held accountable next time?
