A re-elected NSW Liberal and Nationals Government will commit $20 million to expand the use of electronic monitoring for more domestic violence offenders across NSW to help keep victim-survivors safe.
This funding commitment will see up to 200 new devices made available as part of the Domestic Violence Electronic Monitoring program.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said more high-risk domestic violence offenders will be electronically monitored around the clock through this expansion.
"Victim-survivors and their families deserve to be able to go about their daily lives knowing there are significant protections in place to keep them safe from people who have harmed them in the past," Mr Perrottet said.
"Electronic monitoring provides an extra layer of protection for domestic violence victim-survivors and their families.
"This extra investment will enhance our ability to provide this protection, ensuring the movements of more offenders are closely monitored to help keep victim-survivors of domestic violence safe and out of harm's way."
Minister for Women's Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Natalie Ward said further consultation will occur with domestic violence advocates, legal stakeholders and the NSW Police on this expansion.
"We've seen successful examples in other states of how this program can be rolled out, including Project Vigilance in Tasmania, which saw great success with the electronic monitoring of high-risk and persistent family and domestic violence offenders," Mrs Ward said.
"We are always considering new and innovative ways to increase women's safety. This expansion of electronic monitoring builds on our already record investment in initiatives to help prevent and support victims of domestic violence."
Minister for Corrections Geoff Lee said electronic monitoring is an important tool particularly for parolees.
"We've had great results using technology to monitor offenders 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure they are complying with court orders and this expansion will build on that success," Mr Lee said.
The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government are investing record amounts in initiatives to support Women's safety including:
The introduction of the Right To Ask Scheme where people can find out if their partner has a history of domestic violence offences.
$426.6 million to expand the Core and Cluster initiative, to deliver and operate new women's refuges that will support up to an additional 2,900 women and children escaping domestic and family violence each year. This is the largest funding commitment ever made to the domestic violence sector.
There have already been 39 new refuges announced as part of this program. This is on top of the 86 government refuges currently operating.
Doubled Domestic and Family Violence leave for NSW Government sector employees from 10 to 20 days.
Landmark laws to criminalise coercive control in intimate partner relationships
Nation-leading affirmative consent, with the new laws commencing on 1 June 2022.
Introduced five new jury directions to address common misconceptions about consent at the same time releasing state-wide plans to address domestic, family and sexual violence that will respond to and align with the National Plan.
Banned self-represented people accused of domestic violence in criminal and related proceedings from directly cross-examining domestic violence complainants.
The Domestic Violence Electronic Monitoring program applies to offenders released on parole and those sentenced to an Intensive Corrections Order.
