Labor introduces legislation to create tougher penalties for domestic violence

Media Release

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said domestic violence was ‘one of the most widespread and insidious crimes’ in society, which was why Labor introduced new laws into the Parliament that deliver harsher punishments for perpetrators of domestic violence.
“Domestic violence can have long-term psychological and emotional trauma,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“It’s an issue that can permeate through entire families, often engulfing generation after generation."
“The Bill I introduced into Parliament yesterday sends a clear message both to perpetrators and the wider community that domestic and family violence is not acceptable."
“If the Government supports this Bill, people who attack their spouses and partners will face increased punishments."
“The sad fact is that every week in this country a women is killed by a partner."
“But while these tragedies are occurring each week, the ABS says the rate of victims reporting is less than 20 per cent."
“As a community, each and every one of us must accept responsibility to support families in crisis, provide assistance for offenders and victims, and take a stand against violence."
“Women, men, children, families in Queensland should no longer live under the black cloud of fear and violence in their homes.”
Labor’s Domestic Violence private member’s Bill seeks to make amendments to Penalties and Sentences Act 1992, Evidence Act 1977, Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 and Victims of Crime Assistance Act 2009.
Key outcomes of the new legislation include:

• to increase the maximum penalties for offenders who breach domestic violence orders from two years to three years, where that breach involves acts of physical violence
• to admit evidence of a history of domestic violence in a court proceeding if the parties are involved in a domestic or family relationship
• to provide that, where offences involve domestic or family violence, the court is to consider that an aggravating factor at sentencing
• to ensure that all victims of domestic violence can access victims’ assistance, even where the domestic violence is of a non-physical nature.