Major Family Violence Laws Introduced

Victoria is set to introduce a series of changes to family violence and criminal laws, including making coercive control a standalone criminal offence and introducing new protections for victim-survivors.

A Bill introduced to State Parliament on 11 August will make it unlawful to discriminate against someone because they are experiencing or have previously experienced family violence.

The legislation will also remove the use of “good character” references in sentencing, preventing offenders from relying on their reputation or standing in the community as a basis for receiving a lesser sentence.

Changes to Family Violence Intervention Orders are also proposed, including measures aimed at reducing the need for victim-survivors to repeatedly return to court.

Courts will be required to consider the views of victim-survivors before extending an intervention order, while Personal Safety Intervention Orders will be expanded to recognise grooming.

Fine Relief For Family Violence Victim-Survivors 

The Bill will also expand access to fines relief and exemptions for people affected by family violence, where fines have been incurred or used as a form of abuse by a perpetrator.

Separate amendments to the Open Courts Act will seek to limit the use of suppression orders, including restrictions intended to prevent people convicted of rape from using suppression orders designed to protect victim-survivors.

The Victorian Government will also review the use of interim suppression orders and examine the grounds on which proceeding suppression orders can be made during criminal trials.

An expert advisory group will be established to guide the implementation of the new coercive control offence and provide advice on how victim-survivors interact with the justice system.

The proposed changes will need to pass Parliament before becoming law.