Guy Barnett, Attorney-General
Jo Palmer, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence
The Tasmanian Government is delivering nation-leading laws that crackdown on serial family violence offenders to keep victim-survivors safe and ensure perpetrators are held to account.
Attorney-General, Guy Barnett, said the proposed reforms will implement stronger punishments for Serial Family Violence Perpetrators.
"Family violence is abhorrent, and our Government is committed to doing everything we can to protect victim-survivors and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions," the Attorney-General said.
"Tasmanian Magistrates Courts saw a 40 per cent increase in applications relating to a breach of a Family Violence Order or Police Family Violence Order in 2024-25.
"This is deeply concerning and demonstrates that there is a cohort of perpetrators who continue to disregard the safety of victim-survivors.
"We have listened to the feedback received in response to our Discussion Paper on the Family Violence Act and are taking action to strengthen the laws around serial family violence perpetrators and give courts more power to take action against offenders and protect victim-survivors.
"These reforms will put greater focus on keeping victim-survivors safe and ensuring that serial family violence offenders face significant consequences.
"The proposed new framework will be one of the most comprehensive in Australia and the world. It sends a clear message to serial offenders that family violence will not be tolerated, and those who continue to cause harm will be held to account.
"This delivers on the Government's commitment under our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future to strengthen sentencing laws and better protect victims."
Our Government will amend the Family Violence Act 2004 to:
- Review the threshold for declaring someone a Serial Family Violence Perpetrator, to ensure the laws target serious and high-risk offenders.
- Require offenders subject to a Serial Family Violence declaration to be assessed for a behavioural change or rehabilitation program, with the declaration continuing until any required program is completed.
- Introduce a minimum six-month prison term for offenders who commit further serious family violence offences while subject to a Serial Family Violence Perpetrators declaration.
- Establish a public register of declared Serial Family Violence Perpatrators, with the Court able to exclude an offender where publication could compromise a victim-survivor's safety or confidentiality.
- Requiring offenders to notifying Police of any new relationship, or of their social media and dating profiles, is an important safeguard for the community.
- Give courts additional powers to impose conditions to prevent further family violence and protect current, former or potential partners.
- Clarify that previous family violence convictions from any Australian state or territory can be considered when determining whether someone is a Serial Family Violence Perpetrator.
- Clarify that family violence offences committed more than 10 years ago can still be considered when determining the length and conditions of a Serial Family Violence Perpetrator declaration.
- Set a minimum two-year period for a Serial Family Violence Perpetrator declaration.
- Define 'firearm' in the Act so that imitation firearms are also covered.
"Every Tasmanian has the right to feel safe in their home and in their relationships, and no one should have to live with family violence," Minister Palmer said.
"We know that repeat perpetrators can cause significant and ongoing harm to victim-survivors, their children and families.
"These nation-leading reforms put a stronger focus on changing behaviour, while making sure there are consequences for perpetrators who continue to offend."
