Tasmania is set to introduce a public register of serial family violence offenders and a mandatory six-month prison term for those who reoffend, under sweeping reforms the state government says are nation-leading.
Attorney-General Guy Barnett announced the proposed changes today, revealing Tasmanian Magistrates Courts saw a 40% increase in applications relating to breaches of family violence orders during 2024-25.
“This is deeply concerning and demonstrates that there is a cohort of perpetrators who continue to disregard the safety of victim-survivors,” Barnett said.
He said more than 400 serial family violence offenders are currently in Tasmania.
The government plans to amend the Family Violence Act 2004, building on a first round of reforms announced earlier this year.
Under the changes, the threshold for declaring someone a serial family violence perpetrator would be reviewed.
Offenders given a declaration would be required to complete a behavioural change or rehabilitation program before it can be lifted.
Declarations would last a minimum of two years.
Those who commit further serious offences while under a declaration would face at least six months in prison.
A public register of declared offenders would be created, though courts could withhold details where publication might compromise a victim’s safety or confidentiality.
Declared offenders would also have to notify police of any new relationship, including updates to social media and dating profiles.
Previous family violence convictions from any Australian state or territory would be able to be considered when making a declaration.
The definition of firearm in the Act would be expanded to cover imitation firearms.
Courts would gain additional powers to impose conditions preventing further violence and protecting current, former or potential partners.
Draft legislation is expected before Christmas for public consultation.
Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Jo Palmer said the requirement for behavioural change was groundbreaking.
“If we can see them having that counseling, having people speaking into their lives so that they, we can see genuine change in their behavior, that’s when we’ll see a real change right across Tasmania,” she said.
Palmer said the new relationship notification rules are particularly significant.
“You change your profile and you’re now single, looking for love, you’re gonna have to let the police know about that,” she said.
Tasmanian Family and Sexual Violence Alliance chief executive Bree Klerck welcomed the reforms but said more resourcing was needed.
“There is definitely a gap there,” Klerck said.
“We are seeing a bit of a wait list, particularly for children, particularly for women as well.”
Klerck said evidence-based behavioural change programs that run for 12 months, with offenders housed outside the family home, were showing promise in other countries.
She said the public register would give women an opportunity to understand what relationship they were entering into.
Barnett said funding for the mandatory behavioural change programs would be addressed when the draft legislation is released.
