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Law change needed to protect domestic violence victims Aslan Shand
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etting affordable accommodation is hard enough, but for a single mother with a child it can be harder and riskier than for your average single person. Particularly as you try and find a safe and reliable person to share a house with. As the COVID pandemic struck last year Jane (not her real name) signed a lease with Tony (not his real name). He was a friend-of-a-friend. Jane had thought Tony would be a safe person to share a house with. She made sure she got assurances from mutual acquaintances that he would be.
As a co-tenant on a fourbedroom house with total weekly rent of $850 they split the bond 50:50 and paid rent in advance 50:50. But it turned out that he wasn’t a safe person to share a house with. When Jane called the police because of his threatening behaviour they advised her to leave the house ‘if they (she and her daughter) did not feel safe’.
DV not just a spouse It had become a case of domestic violence (DV) that saw Jane, and her primary school-aged daughter, having to leave their newly rented home. It doesn’t have to be a partner that is abusing you to be a case of DV.
Jane and her daughter left the property immediately, even though the rent was paid in advance, and went into emergency accommodation for a few days. They were then able to rent a room, with no cooking facilities, for $450 a week in a pub. ‘Owing to the current rental crisis we were stuck at the pub for four months looking for a new home,’ Jane told The Echo. The law allows a victim of DV to terminate their lease under the Residential Tenancies Act, which Jane did. But unfortunately, her difficult situation didn’t end there. Once the immediate stress of the DV situation had passed Jane needed to retrieve her bond and asked Tony to repay her. Tony refused and then started making allegations against Jane. At this point the bond was frozen by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) as Jane sought its return. Jane was asking for her share of the bond. Finally, following legal advice from Barefoot Law and Legal Aid,
DV help Mullumbimby District Neighbourhood Centre provides domestic violence support through its staying Home, Leaving Violence program and Integrated Domestic & Family Violence program. To enquire about accessing any of these services call 6684 1286 or fill out an online enquiry form at: www.mdnc.org.au.
24/7 National counselling helpline, information and support: 1800RESPECT or 1800 737 732 Website 1800respect.org.au. NSW Domestic Violence Line Phone: 1800 656 643 Website: facs.nsw.gov.au/ domestic-violence.
24/7 Domestic Violence helpline for information, support and referrals to services near you. Domestic & Family Violence Counselling Service NSW State-wide Phone: 1800 211 028 Website: rape-dvservices.org.au.
Jane sought to have NCAT award her her half of the bond. NCAT ordered Tony to pay Jane back her share of the bond.
Law change needed Unfortunately, while NCAT has said that Tony needs to pay Jane her bond there is no way for NCAT to ensure that that happens. It is now up to Jane to
approach Tony to retrieve the money. ‘The reality is that the law does not allow for half of the bond to be returned directly to someone in Jane’s position,’ said Mark Swivel from Barefoot Law. ‘Jane spoke for herself at the NCAT hearing and put her case with clarity and courage. But the NCAT decision-maker said her
hands were tied. ‘The law needs to be changed,’ said Mr Swivel. ‘A landlord is entitled to protection against losses. But when a person exits a lease owing to domestic violence, in accordance with the law, it is not right to leave Jane, or nay person, fighting by herself to get the money back from the person who has done her wrong.’
WATER DRAGON TANTRA RETREAT 11–17 APRIL TANTRIC HEALING
Led by Helena (the principal of Tantric Healing), will be holding a tantric retreat in Byron Bay. The retreat is suitable for both singles and couples. Helena has over 20 years’ experience in tantra and has been teaching for over 17 years. She featured as a presenter at the Sydney Sex Festival in January 2017. She was a guest assistant presenter in the early 2010s with the International School of Temple Arts. Her healing skills are intuitive… At the current stage in her life Helena is moving into her wise women phase… one of sharing knowledge and wisdom – training new practitioners to carry forward her tantric legacy. She has been running Tantric Healing in Sydney since 2004. She has trained with: Oceania and Icarus in Byron, Pandit Ji – a Himalayan Priest since 2019, Margot Annand in Bali, Anna Davidovich from Byron, Kahdro a Tibetan Taoist – a master of Mantak Chia’s work, Nitiyama an evolved soul– who taught her body work,
Tantra literally means loom, weave or warp – it is an Indian esoteric tradition of VSLULWXDOLW\ GDWLQJ EDFN WKRXVDQGV RI \HDUV 0RGHUQ \RJD ÀQGV LWV RULJLQV LQ WDQWUD Tantric healing has three components: meditation, personal growth and sensuality. Combined these elements are a safe spiritual path. Kundalini awakening, healing, breathwork, body work and energy awareness are all components of the teachings of Tantric Healing.
energy centres, and how to activate, connect and integrate. Prior to her adventure with tantra Helena worked as a Pilates instructor, professional dancer, gymnastics coach and a performing arts schoolteacher.
‘Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.’ –Einstein
Tantra is a form of meditation that includes the sexual energy, sexual energy is your life force energy, it is like turbo charging your meditation.
If you are wanting to learn about Tantra...this will be an amazing retreat to begin with. For more information about this retreat or others that tantric healing runs go to www.tantrichealing.com.au
info@tantrichealing.com.au | Helena: 0425 289 872 18 The Byron Shire Echo lëſĈIJ ǨǮǽ ǩǧǩǨ
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