Update on events & issues in Victoria - Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria

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Review of Family Violence Laws in Victoria

The Victorian Law Reform Commission has recommended a major overhaul to better protect victims of violence under the Victorian Crimes (Family Violence) Act 1987 (this is the Act that covers family violence Intervention Orders). This is the first comprehensive review of the Victorian Intervention Order system in 18 years.

The recommendations include that victims should be able to remain in the family home, court staff and police should be provided with training on family violence, and that specialist a police family violence prosecutions unit should be set up. See the Victorian Law Reform Commission's final report (2006) interim report (2005), the terms of reference, and the Review of Family Violence Laws Consultation Paper (2004) on the Victorian Law Reform Commission website under 'current projects'.

DVIRC welcomes the proposals and is supporting a community campaign to encourage the government to implement them. DVIRC believes that if the reforms are implemented, they could change the culture of the justice system, providing greater protection for victims including those who have experienced non-physical forms of abuse, and making the legal protection more accessible for people with disabilities and Indigenous communities.

Can you help support the reforms?

The Victorian Family Violence Justice Reform Campaign is calling on people to support the reforms. The Campaign is coordinated by Domestic Violence Victoria, the peak body for women’s domestic violence services, and the Federation of Community Legal Services (Vic) Inc. Whether you are an individual woman who has experienced family violence or you are from an organisation concerned with this issue, you have a vital role to play in getting support from Members of Parliament for implementation of the recommendations. You don’t have to be an expert. Your views as a member of the community and particularly as someone who has experienced or worked with family violence, are important. The more letters, phone calls and visits MPs receive, the more seriously they will take this issue.

Download the Campaign Kit which provides sample letters which you can send to MPs.

For more background info: See also an paper from the 9th Australian Institute of Family Studies conference by Judith Pierce, which discusses the Law Reform Commission's Review.

 

 

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