The tormented lives of thousands of domestic violence victims have been remembered in Brisbane. The candlelight vigil begins a month of focus on the issue.

Max Eagles reports.

TRANSCRIPT

More than 100 people lit candles and remembered those who have suffered at the hands of their partners or family.

It was a solemn acknowledgement of the need for better prevention and tougher laws.

Anoushka Dowling, Mate Bystander Program: “So the community events, it’s great to get people thinking in the sense of community, thinking that they are part of belonging to something like that, so that they may want to help out their friend and their neighbour once they have that sense of belonging.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk spoke at the event, which was organised at the start of Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month.

Annastacia Palaszczuk, Premier: “Last night I gathered with hundreds of Queenslanders at a candlelight vigil at kangaroo point to remember dear friends, colleagues and family members who are no longer with us because of domestic and family violence.”

The government launched the “Do Something” campaign this week, with advertising online, on television and in cinemas.

It hopes the campaign will encourage people to speak up about domestic violence and report offences.

Annastacia Palaszczuk, Premier: “It is time for us to take a stand as a community and do something. Doing something saves lives, and doing this together changes society.”

The vigil was one of over 20 violence prevention events planned during May.

Max Eagles, QUT News.