Domestic violence orders to be enforceable interstate

Federal and state governments have agreed that domestic violence orders issued in any state or territory will now be automatically recognised and enforceable nationally.

The announcement of the Government’s National Domestic Violence Order Scheme came on November 25 to coincide with White Ribbon Day, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Minister for Women, Michaelia Cash, said victims of domestic violence should be safe at home, on the streets and online and should not be forced into hiding by abusers. “For those who move interstate, this scheme will make it easier to access protection and enable them to move forward with their lives,” Senator Cash said.

Existing state and territory laws protecting victims and affected family members will not be changed. The scheme will be supported by the Interim Order Reference Solution (IORS) which allows police and courts to share domestic violence order information from the National Police Reference System.

The Federal Government and state and territory governments agreed in the Council of Australian Governments to share the costs of the dedicated system. The Federal Government allocated $9.9 million towards the development of this system in the 2016-2017 Budget.

Domestic violence orders issued after November 25 will automatically be nationally recognised and enforceable. Individuals protected by an existing domestic violence order need to apply to a local court in Australia to have it recognised under the new scheme. Further information can be found at www.ag.gov.au/ndvos.