SPECIALIST domestic violence courts and a new crime of strangulation should be introduced, says a landmark report into the issue.

They are among 140 recommendations to tackle what Special Taskforce into Domestic and Family Violence chairwoman Dame Quentin Bryce labelled” this confronting and dreadful scourge in our society”.

The report, handed to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk today, also calls for major improvements in the response of police and courts to protect victims.

“Alarmingly, women frequently told us the workings of the law and justice system only served to further traumatise them,” Ms Bryce said.

“Magistrates, police and lawyers need to do better.”

PAPERWORK: Queensland domestic violence support service says police don’t take cases seriously

But they do advocate a new offence of non-lethal strangulation. “ strangulation is often a pre-cursor of domestic homicide,” Ms Bryce said.

And the report, “Not Now, Not Ever”, says the fact offences took place in a domestic setting should be considered by the courts as an aggravating factor, leading to tougher sentences.

“Perpetrators mist be held to account. This is a major theme of our report.” Ms Bryce said.

It recommends boosting perpetrator intervention programs and amending the law to force courts to consider excluding the offender from the home when making a Domestic Violence Order.

The 480-page document says there is a direct link between community attitudes and the prevalence of domestic violence. In 2013-14, 66,016 cases were reported to police.

The taskforce wants a statewide prevention strategy, overseen by an independent body. It recommends the introduction of programs in all schools to enable secondary students to recognise domestic and family violence and intervene safely and protect victims and workplace training.

“Each of us must ask ourselves: What can I do?,” Ms Bryce said.

“Collectively, we must stand and we must say:” No more, no more, not now not ever.”

The government will now consult with departments and agencies on the recommendations before formulating a Cabinet response over the next few months.

But Ms Palaszczuk said the concept of a special court had merit

“Domestic violence should not be tolerated in any form,” she said.

The taskforce was set up by the previous Newman Government and the premier said she was confident of bipartisan support in dealing with issue.