Page 4555 - Week 12 - Thursday, 26 October 2017
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$10,000 for non-violent domestic and family violence offences including property damage and contravention of family violence orders.
Where a victim has not reported domestic or family violence to police, but they have reported to support agencies and/or professionals, there is scope to access certain payments as a ‘special reporting’. Immediate needs and economic loss payments cover expenses such as personal security installations, emergency relocations, medical expenses, psychological support and loss of earnings. During the first year of operation (2016-2017), 22 per cent of applications were made by victims of domestic or family violence.
Changes have also been made to the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 to better protect women and children leaving family and domestic violence. Changes to the Act came into effect in August 2017 and established a ‘protected person’ as defined under the Family Violence Act 2016 or the Personal Violence Act 2016 and allowed a new tenancy agreement to be entered into, in the circumstances of family violence or existence of protection orders and make it easier to transfer a tenancy to a co-tenant or resident. These changes provide the legislative basis for the ACT Government’s ‘Stay at Home Program’ that supports victims of family and domestic violence to stay in their own homes and moves the perpetrators of violence to alternative accommodation.
The Reportable Conduct and Information Sharing Legislation Amendment Act 2016 commenced in August 2016, making changes to allow better information sharing about children and introducing the Reportable Conduct Scheme. This is discussed further below.
Stronger police support for family violence victims
Addressing family and domestic and family violence within the community is a high priority for ACT Policing. In 2015, the Family Violence Coordination Unit was established to coordinate the ACT Policing frontline response to domestic and family violence and ensure that it is timely, consistent and comprehensive. The Family Violence Coordination Unit enhances the pro-intervention policy of ACT Policing and develops strategies to reduce risk and ensure offenders are held accountable.
In the 2016-17 Budget, the ACT Government committed to providing a further $1.18 million of funding over four years to ACT Policing to new Family Violence Order Liaison Officers within the Family Violence Coordination Unit to assist victims of domestic and family violence by applying for a Family Violence Order on their behalf. In December 2016, a direct referral process was established whereby the courts can refer applicants to the Family Violence Order Liaison Officers when it is considered necessary to address reports of ongoing victimisation and criminality.
ACT Policing members commenced referring applicants for Family Violence Orders to the Family Violence Order Liaison Officers on 1 May 2017, in line with the new provisions under the Family Violence Act 2016. Since then, there has been a significant increase in referrals for assistance, confirming the importance of this initiative.
Between 1 May and 31 July 2017, Family Violence Order Liaison Officers assisted 123 victims through the Family Violence Order process. As of mid-August 2017, ACT Policing Family Violence Order Liaison Officers have applied for three Family Violence Orders on behalf of victims.
These matters are the first use of this legislation and are all currently before the court. Family Violence Order Liaison Officers have received positive feedback from the victims they assist.
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