The Victorian coroner has called for systemic changes in dealing with the family violence, following the death of a woman at the hands of her ex-partner. In 2020 Noeline Dalzell was fatally stabbed by James Fairhall, who had a history of family violence against her. He had been released from custody less than two weeks earlier.
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00:00Family wiped tears from their eyes as Coroner John Kane delivered his findings into the
00:08death of Indigenous woman Nolene Dalzell in 2020.
00:12Speaking directly to the family, he said he was deeply saddened by the persistent and
00:18preventable violence Miss Dalzell's children observed and experienced.
00:24The Coroner commended the children's bravery in attempting to intervene as their father,
00:29James Fairhall, fatally stabbed their mother in the neck at their Seaford home.
00:34He had only been released from prison less than two weeks earlier.
00:38The Coroner found there was a lack of communication between agencies and the response of the Family
00:43Violence Investigation Unit fell short of best practice and had failed to keep Miss
00:49Dalzell safe.
00:50Eleven recommendations were made, which largely centred around improving information sharing
00:56between agencies including Victoria Police, Child Protection and Corrections Victoria
01:02and a mandatory notification policy of court outcomes for victims of family violence.
01:07He also recommended an independent review be carried out into the Family Violence Investigation
01:12Unit.
01:13What we want now is for the government and agencies to pay close attention to the recommendations
01:22that the Coroner has found and implement them in full.
01:27In 2022, Fairhall was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being found guilty of Miss
01:33Dalzell's murder.