- The Crisafulli Government is delivering protections for more victims of domestic and family violence sooner, with the launch of its GPS Tracker pilot program in Townsville and Caboolture.
- The Court-ordered trackers will monitor perpetrators 24/7, and alerts will be responded to by police, as part of the Crisafulli Government's plan to make Queensland safer.
- This action is part of suite of landmark DFV reform passed last week and delivers on a key election commitment of the Crisafulli Government.
- Queenslanders have now seen 10 months of delivering for victims of domestic and family violence under the Crisafulli Government, after 10 years of decline under Labor.
High-risk perpetrators of domestic and family violence will be tracked 24 hours a day, seven days a week, under the Crisafulli Government's plan to protect more victims of domestic and family violence, sooner.
Magistrates Courts in Townsville and Caboolture from October will have the power to impose the trackers on the high-risk offenders as part of their domestic violence orders (DVOs).
The pilot program will have the capacity to track 150 offenders by the end of 2025, and 500 by the end of 2028.
GPS trackers for high-risk DFV offenders are part of the fresh start the Crisafulli Government is delivering to help restore safety and make Queensland safer, and complement existing safety planning undertaken in consultation with specialist DFV services and victim-survivors.
Victim-survivors will have the option of carrying their own personal safety device to alert them if a perpetrator has breached their order or comes within a certain proximity of a victim, so they can immediately enact their safety plan.
Monitoring devices will be available to be imposed on perpetrators with a history of DFV offences, or a current or previous conviction of an indictable offence involving violence.
Courts will also consider the views and wishes of the victim-survivor when deciding to impose a GPS tracker.
The Crisafulli Government's 2025-26 Budget is delivering $28.5 million to establish the framework and deliver the pilot program.
Other measures included in the landmark legislation include allowing police officers responding to incidents to issue on the spot Police Protection Directions, to provide immediate, 12-month long protection to victim-survivors and the use of video recorded evidence-in-chief for DFV victim survivors, to ease trauma on victims during the court process.
These changes deliver on the Crisafulli Government's key election commitments and marks another step towards restoring safety to Queenslanders.
Over the past ten years, the former Labor Government failed to protect victims and failed to hold perpetrators to account, with hundreds of recommendations for domestic and family violence reform left gathering dust.
In its first 10 months, the Crisafulli Government is delivering more protection for victims, sooner, after 10 years of decline in victim safety under Labor.
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Amanda Camm, said the GPS trackers were about putting victims first and holding perpetrators to account.
"We are piloting the GPS trackers in Townsville and Caboolture to protect more victims sooner, and will continue to roll them out across Queensland," Minister Camm said.
"Domestic and Family Violence is insidious and has significant impacts across our entire State.
"Victim survivors deserve the confidence that they will be protected, and their preparators will be held to account.
"After almost a decade of Labor's failure to protect vulnerable Queenslanders, this is another step toward restoring safety.
"We are looking at all steps to strengthen prevention methods to improve life for victims and hold perpetrators to account."
Member for Mundingburra and Assistant Minister for Community Safety Janelle Poole APM said enhancing these laws and implementing prevention programs would help break the cycle of violence.
"Granting police the authority to issue the most restrictive orders would ensure that high-risk offenders are appropriately monitored," Ms Poole said.
"These reforms are not about headlining or media opportunities they are about lives.
"Women, children and the community just want to feel safe and for too long this has gone unanswered by the previous Labor Government."
Member for Townsville Adam Baillie said domestic and family violence was a scourge on communities and unfortunately Townsville wasn't immune – with police responding to more DFV incidents than ever before.
"The fact Townsville is one of the areas to pilot the GPS tracking devices shows this Government's commitment to restoring safety in homes across this city and dealing with this complex issue," Mr Baillie said.
Member for Thuringowa Natalie Marr said she was proud to be part of the Crisafulli Government that was putting families before perpetrators.
"Domestic and family violence is not acceptable in our community, and it cannot be ignored," Ms Marr said.
"We're delivering stronger protections here in Townsville to keep victim-survivors safe and hold offenders to account."
Information and support options are available for anyone affected by domestic and family violence at www.qld.gov.au/needtoknow
