Child Protector Batters Woman

June 10, 2013 permalink

What kind of man does it take to lead a social services department? One who batters a woman. That is what Jim Moore, director-general of the NSW Department of Family and Community Services did in Australia. That is the department responsible for child protection, and protection of women from domestic violence.

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Jim Moore charged with domestic violence

YONI BASHAN LINDA SILMALIS, The Sunday Telegraph June 09, 2013 12:00AM

Jim Moore, Director General, Family and Community Services.

Source: Supplied

THE Director-General tasked with cracking down on domestic violence has been charged by police after allegedly drunkenly assaulting his partner.

Jim Moore, 52, was arrested and charged with assault and intimidation after officers from Rose Bay Local Area Command arrived at his Paddington apartment, known as "The Stables", and heard a woman screaming for help.

Police allege Moore got into a loud and violent argument with the 44-year-old and, after striking her, refused to let the woman leave the Jersey Rd unit.

He was arrested at the scene and taken in a police car back to Waverley Police Station where he was charged - a provisional domestic violence order was also taken out against him.

NSW Community Services Minister Pru Goward, who is also the Minister for Women, yesterday said she had referred the matter to the Director-General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Ms Goward said Moore had chosen to stand aside without pay while the charges were pending. He will appear in court on June 13 and was granted strict conditional bail until that time.

"Mr Moore has chosen to stand aside without pay while the charges are pending. I support and agree with Mr Moore's decision," Ms Goward said in a statement.

Domestic violence has been a key priority for the NSW Government with Ms Goward recently saying that with 125,000 incidents each year, the current laws were failing women.

As Director-General of Family and Community Services (FACS), Mr Moore - who earned $422,801 a year - was responsible for overseeing the care of some of the state's most vulnerable.

Among the eight departments that made up FACS was included Women NSW, a special agency charged with tackling domestic violence.

He was appointed by Ms Goward to head up the department in December 2011 and was previously a career bureaucrat with experience working both in Canberra and the state government.

It's understood the alleged altercation between the pair was so loud that neighbours reported varying accounts of the incident to police.

However only one neighbour, who was awake around the time of the alleged incident, chose to speak, but claimed not to have heard anything.

"I think he left early this morning - I was awake last night at 12.15 and I didn't hear anything, but their unit is up the back."

Ms Goward's office is in the process of spearheading a raft of reforms around domestic violence, including on-the-spot apprehended violence orders to tackle the problem of domestic violence.

Moore's replacement, Jim Longley - who is presently the Chief Executive of the Office of Ageing, Disability and Home Care - was yesterday immediately appointed into his role.

In welcoming Moore to the job in 2011, Ms Goward noted his strong record in delivering reforms to improve the lives of the State's most vulnerable, making him the ideal candidate for the job.

"Jim's 28-year career in Commonwealth and NSW governments, as well as his strong record in successfully delivering reforms to improve the lives of vulnerable people makes him an excellent choice," she said.

Source: Telegraph (Australia)