Family Violence
                              Act 2008
                                 
           

The Victorian Government introduced new laws to better protect the community from family violence and make those responsible more accountable for their actions.

The new laws cover all types of family violence and a wide range of family and family-like relationships.

The laws came into effect in December 2008.

The Family Violence Protection Act 2008 aim to:

1. make Victorians safer from family violence
   
   

2. prevent and reduce family violence in our community
   
   

3. hold those responsible for family violence more accountable for their behaviour.
   
   

The Family Violence Protection Act 2008:

1. broadens the definition of family violence so that it includes economic and emotional abuse, as well as other types of threatening and controlling behaviours
   
   

2. expands the definition of ‘family’ to cover a range of family and family-like relationships
   
   

3. gives police more powers to respond more quickly and effectively to family violence
   
   

4. makes it easier for victims of family violence to change tenancy arrangements to enable them to remain in their homes if they wish
   
   

5. improves the court system to encourage greater reporting from victims, including restricting respondents to family violence intervention orders who are self-represented from personally cross-examining their victims in court
   
   

6. better protects vulnerable Victorians
   
   

Under the new laws, police will be able to issue Family Violence Safety Notices to protect victims of family violence. These Notices will provide police with another tool to respond quickly and effectively to family violence after hours. Under the new laws, police are still able to apply for family violence intervention orders on behalf of victims.

Victoria Police also have guidelines, the Code of Practice for the Investigation of Family Violence, which outlines how police will respond to reports of family violence. The guidelines emphasise that all reports of family violence will be treated seriously by police.

You can download a copy of the Act here.

Source : State Government of Victoria - Department of Justice