About the event

If you are having any difficulty booking online, please email cpd@lawsocietywa.asn.au

The Labor Government has announced the most comprehensive family violence law reform package ever seen in Western Australia.  The Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing reports that one in six women have experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or previous partner, which is 1.6 million women across Australia.  The proposed reforms, to be introduced into Parliament, amend nine separate pieces of legislation across six separate Ministerial portfolios and demonstrate a cross-government commitment to tackling family and domestic violence.

The reform package includes:

• two new offences under the Criminal Code, namely non-fatal strangulation and persistent family violence;
• new aggravated penalties for offences which commonly occur in circumstances of family violence;
• introduction of serial family violence offender declarations;
• expanded access to electronic monitoring for offenders;
• introduction of jury directions to counter stereotypes, myths and misconceptions about family and domestic violence;
• making it easier for evidence of family and domestic violence to be introduced in criminal trials;
• requirement for police to record every family violence incident; and
• a range of amendments to the Restraining Orders Act 1997 and Bail Act 1982 to enhance victim safety and make it easier for victims to obtain protection from violence.

Join us to hear the Commissioner for Victims of Crime speak on these reforms.

Level: General