Minns admits NSW government needs to do ‘far better’ on domestic violence as grim dates loom

NSW Premier Chris Minns has warned of a potential spike in domestic violence around the forthcoming NRL and AFL grand finals, confirming extra police resources will be deployed after a horror weekend of alleged violence across the state.

Four people, including a five-year-old boy and three women aged 23, 70 and 90, were killed in separate alleged attacks over the weekend , while two children remain in critical condition.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: NSW domestic violence crisis sparks urgent action calls

The deaths have renewed calls for urgent action to tackle domestic and family violence, with Minns admitting the government needs to do “far better” to support victims.

With the NRL and AFL grand finals approaching, Minns confirmed extra police resources would be deployed.

He told Sunrise domestic violence offences increase by more than 25 per cent on an NRL weekend.

But the premier warned a police response could come too late, with many domestic violence offences occurring behind closed doors.

“By the time they roll to a house or a unit or a flat, it’s too late,” he said.

Minns instead called for a broader community response, urging people to speak up when they see warning signs of abuse.

“This needs to be an urgent national conversation that says that if you see something in a relationship, it’s not a private family matter. This is abuse,” he said.

In many cases, he said, warning signs are visible long before a violent death occurs.

“People have known about what’s been happening way before that,” he said.

“This is the only way we’re going to save, often, mostly women from horrible deaths at the hand of their partner.”

The premier said the government had already tightened bail laws, increased sentencing and criminalised coercive control.