Gordon saga hasn't put spotlight on DV

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says Quentin Bryce's report into domestic violence has done more to raise awareness than the Billy Gordon controversy.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk doesn't believe embattled MP Billy Gordon's issues have put domestic violence in the spotlight.

Ms Palaszczuk visited a domestic violence call centre in Brisbane on Wednesday morning to announce an extra $1.5 million for the service.

The premier said the funding boost for DV Connect was in the wake of a recent surge in domestic and family violence being reported to the service.

It also comes as former Labor MP Mr Gordon, now an Independent, faces continued pressure over domestic violence allegations and claims of unpaid child support.

But Ms Palaszczuk said the Gordon saga, which has involved two ex-partners coming forward to report abuse, hasn't put the spotlight on domestic violence.

"No, I actually believe that Quentin Bryce's report has actually helped raise awareness," Ms Palaszczuk said, referring to the "Not Now, Not Ever" report into domestic violence released in February.

"I also believe that this issue being addressed at a national level is fundamentally crucial."

Ms Palaszczuk also responded to Katter's Australian Party state leader Rob Katter's calls for Mr Gordon to be cut some slack because he grew up in an indigenous community.

"Domestic violence is simply unacceptable," Ms Palaszczuk said.

However, she did concede that, sometimes, background circumstances need to be taken into account.

Mr Katter said domestic violence campaigners and critics shouldn't target Mr Gordon while investigations into the allegations against him were underway, particularly given his background.

"A lot of that (domestic violence) is rife through Aboriginal communities and here's the big news flash: Billy Gordon grew up in a predominantly Aboriginal community," Mr Katter told ABC Radio.

The Queensland government has come under fire from the opposition for going against changes to voting rules in parliament that would allow Mr Gordon's "tainted" vote to be nullified.


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Source: AAP


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