The tragic reason a man decided to become a removalist helping domestic violence victims escape the abuse – as business experiences a chilling surge during coronavirus lockdown
- A man saw his wife getting hit by another man while working as a removalist
- It spurred him on to start his own removal company to help victims flee abuse
- John Siaki's removal business used to move around four women per week
- Since coronavirus lockdown his team now helps relocate up to 10 women a week
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
A heroic man started his own furniture removal company to help domestic victims flee abusive relationships after he witnessed a horrific attack on a woman.
John Siaki, from Ipswich in Queensland, saw the wife get punched in the face by a man several years ago when he was a removalist contractor.
The incident spurred the young father on to create his own business to help vulnerable women move house without their partners knowing.
'I felt powerless … as if he had hit me... I walked out of that house feeling like I wasn't Superman or Batman or any other superhero,' he told the ABC.
Mr Siaki said he has seen a chilling surge in domestic violence callouts since COVID-19 lockdown laws were put in place, leaving women stuck at home with their abusers.
John Siaki, from Ipswich in Queensland, saw a woman get punched in the face several years ago - spurring him on to create his own removalist business to help vulnerable women move house without their partners knowing.
Mr Siaki said he has seen a chilling surge in domestic violence callouts since COVID-19 lockdown laws were put in place
The Centre for Women found there has been a 20 per cent increase in family violence in Queensland related to coronavirus financial stress, while a survey found the level of violence and severity has skyrocketed by 40 per cent
His removal company, Siaki and Sons, previously moved around four women from violent households a week.
But over the past two months Mr Siaki and his employees perform up to 10 domestic violence jobs a week.
Mr Siaki and his team help the women move out while their partner is away or at work - or sometimes even in jail - and every move is treated as a covert operation.
'They always tell you the full story - you don't ask for it, but they cry their hearts out,' he said.
'Some of the objects we take the client doesn't want because there are probably some bad memories attached to them.'
The young father, who grew up in a Pacific Island community, said respecting women was instilled in him from a young age.
The Centre for Women found there has been a 20 per cent increase in family violence in Queensland related to coronavirus financial stress, while a recent survey found the level of violence and severity has skyrocketed by 40 per cent.
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Nichole Yade, the general manager at King's Cross women's shelter Lou's Place, said lockdown has caused a significant increase in the number of women seeking shelter from domestic violence.
'We have seen more families doing it tough and relationships that may have been a bit wobbly - with additional financial strain and social distancing - have been pushed even more,' she said.
She said fear surrounding the virus has allowed controlling and abusive partners to tighten their grip even more.
'I've talked to a woman where a husband wouldn't let her leave the house because he was worried about their toddler getting coronavirus,' she said.
Hayley Foster, a member of the Australian domestic violence advisory group, said being stuck inside their home 'is the worst possible outcome' for domestic violence victims
'He is controlling all her finances, all her physical movements and yesterday there was an escalation to physical violence because she was feeling trapped at home and wanted to take the young child to see the doctor.'
Ms Yade said mothers had much more difficulty leaving an abusive partner as they wanted to protect their children.
Hayley Foster, a member of the Australian domestic violence advisory group, said being stuck inside their home 'is the worst possible outcome' for domestic violence victims.
'That's the thing abusers want, to be isolated at home with their victim and cut them off from any supports,' she told Daily Mail Australia.
'This is such an unprecedented time... but of everything we know the worst thing you can do is require a domestic violence victim to be isolated with their abuser.
'We are already noticing, women are de-prioritising their safety needs. They are not wanting to prioritise their safety because they're worried about keeping a roof over theirs and their kids heads, or not wanting to upset their abuser.
'The cases we are seeing are really severe assaults where they don’t have anywhere safe to go.'
The Morrison Government last month set aside $150million into domestic violence.
A resident at the coronavirus-riddled Newmarch House near Penrith in Western Sydney brought the national death toll to 96 on Monday
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