Serious failures by Queensland police in the lead-up to the horrific murders of Brisbane woman Hannah Clarke and her three children are challenging official assertions that nothing more could have been done to save them.
Whistleblowers Break Their Silence
Two whistleblowers, one from within the Queensland Police Service and another from the Queensland coroners court, have spoken exclusively to Guardian Australia. They came forward hoping their revelations will force a critical change in how police handle domestic violence cases and subsequent deaths.
Their testimony directly contradicts the official finding that the tragedy was unavoidable. It suggests that Hannah Clarke and her children might have been saved if existing procedures had been properly followed.
A Pattern of Systemic Failure
Disturbingly, the investigation reveals this was not an isolated incident. New evidence indicates that police failed at least two other women prior to their deaths at the hands of violent partners.
The failure continued even after these women were killed. The police did not properly investigate their own actions, or lack thereof, in the periods leading up to the murders. This pattern points to a systemic issue within the force's approach to domestic violence.
A Call for Change and Accountability
The case of Hannah Clarke has become a national rallying cry in Australia. If more could have been done to protect her, it raises a harrowing question: could something more have been done for the countless other women whose names we do not know?
The whistleblowers and this new evidence are now putting immense pressure on the Queensland police and government to overhaul their policies. The goal is to ensure that trust is rebuilt and that victims of domestic violence receive the protection they are promised by law.
