The move fulfils an election commitment by the Government to help ensure the safety of victim-survivors of domestic and family violence.
Under the proposal, offenders who breach a domestic violence-related intervention order by either committing a violent act or threatening to do so will be subject to much more stringent conditions if bail were to be granted.
Both home detention and electronic tracking would be mandatory in these cases, with the defendant being forbidden from leaving the home unless it's for specific reasons such as travelling to work or seeking medical assistance.
Electronic monitoring combined with geographical bail restrictions means that the device can provide real-time alerts if the defendant breaches these home detention conditions.
Additional restrictions in the bail agreement or intervention order can also be programmed into the monitoring device, such as a condition not to approach the protected person's home or place of employment.
Similar provisions are already in place for defendants released on bail accused of offences involving serious or organised crime.
As put by Kyam Maher
We are taking every step possible to better protect victim-survivors and ensuring perpetrators are dealt with appropriately.
We know that defendants in this category exhibit serious risk factors in relation to the person protected under the intervention order, so we want to make sure that, in cases where bail is granted, the very strictest of conditions will always apply.
This initiative will help protect victim-survivors, with electronic tracking ensuring any potential breach of bail, particularly conditions in place to prevent the defendant approaching the victim's home or place of work, will be met with a swift response from authorities.
As put by Katrine Hildyard
Evidence shows that immediately after a relationship breakdown can be a particularly dangerous time where the risk of re-offending is high. This often coincides with a defendant being newly charged with a criminal offence and on bail.
We need to take action to address perpetrator behaviour during this time, to prevent domestic violence and enhance the safety of victim-survivors. This bill is about doing that.
Requiring electronic monitoring as a condition of bail for those charged with serious breaches of domestic intervention orders will absolutely help prevent domestic violence.
It will also mean that courageous victim-survivors can more readily go about attending work and engaging in other aspects of community life. This bill is for them.
