Preventing and responding to family violence is a top priority for the Rockliff Liberal Government, as it continues its work to keep the community safe.
Today, the Standing Council of Attorneys-General met in Perth and endorsed the National Principles to Address Coercive Control in Family and Domestic Violence (National Principles) to support the development of a consistent understanding of coercive control across all jurisdictions and sectors.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Elise Archer, said she was pleased that the National Principles will assist in informing jurisdictional responses to family violence, and provide social and community benefits through increased understanding of coercive control and opportunities to better inform effective responses to family violence.
"I recognise the devastating impact that coercive control can have on victims, their children and the wider community, and am pleased our laws in Tasmania are nation-leading," the Attorney-General said.
"We recognise that more needs to be done educationally to address coercive control.
"Safe at Home is currently arranging for training on coercive control to be delivered to all relevant government and non-government organisations. The training will provide a deeper understanding of coercive control and the complexities of family violence, alongside practical and trauma-informed strategies for support agencies and frontline workers across all aspects of the family violence system.
"This will enable the early identification and appropriate response to cases involving coercive control, with the paramount consideration of ensuring the safety, psychological wellbeing and interests of people affected by family violence.
"I am committed to ensuring that our family violence laws are contemporary and follow best practice principles."
The Standing Council of Attorneys-General (SCAG) also agreed to precautionary action to address the potential harm to children in later life through early exposure to simulated gambling and gambling-like activities.
Recent research by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), drawing on data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, found a causal link indicating young people that played simulated gambling games had a 40 percent higher probability of spending real money on gambling as young adults.
The Attorney-General said that the introduction of mandatory minimum classifications for computer games containing gambling-like content can better protect those in our community that are vulnerable to harms from exposure to gambling-like mechanics.
"Since these gambling-like mechanics are being accessed by children, immediate precautionary action is required to address this issue," the Attorney General said.
The Australian Government is proposing changes to the Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games 2023 to introduce mandatory minimum classifications of:
- M (Mature – not recommended for persons under 15 years of age) for games containing in-game purchases linked to elements of chance (e.g. loot boxes), and
- R 18+ (Restricted ‒ legally restricted to adults aged 18 or older) for games containing simulated gambling (e.g. social casino games).
"The proposed classifications are proportionate to available evidence on the risks of harm, and in line with international approaches to the regulation of loot boxes and simulated gambling.
"These changes will better protect our children and young people who are vulnerable to harms from exposure to gambling-like elements in electronic games."
Attorneys-General, among other things, also agreed to establish an officials-level working group to consider future reform of the National Classification Scheme in this quickly evolving area.
