In response to the recent spate of domestic violence deaths, last week the Queensland Government has fast-tracked a number of recommendations of the former Governor-General, Quentin Bryce’s “Not Now, Not Ever” Report into Domestic Violence. The Legislation to be introduced to Parliament this week will:
- Increase maximum penalties for first-time breaches of DVOs to three years jail and subsequent breaches to up to five years jail.
- Give victims “special witness” status when giving evidence in court proceedings.
- Record domestic violence-related offences on a person’s criminal history to reveal repeated family violence offending.
