The Family Violence Reforms Bill has been released for consultation.
The Bill is part of our commitment to reduce levels of family violence in the State and improve the way Tasmania’s justice system deals with perpetrators of family violence.
The Bill makes a number of amendments, including to insert a new offence of persistent family violence in the Criminal Code. The Bill will also amend the Evidence (Children and Special Witnesses) Act 2001 to be clear that a self-represented defendant is not permitted to cross-examine a witness who is the alleged victim of family violence during an application under parts 3 or 4 of the Family Violence Act 2004 or bail applications.
The Tasmanian Government is committed to strengthening family violence legislation, and we will continue to deliver on our nation leading reform targeting repeat offenders.
A copy of the Bill is available on the Department of Justice’s website at https://www.justice.tas.gov.au/community-consultation