FAMILY AND DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDERS
566. Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. It
is good to hear the Premier acknowledge that a whole-of-government approach is
needed, because this area covers the Western Australia Police Force, the
Department of Communities, the Attorney General and the Premier. What immediate
action will the Premier take to enable the courts to protect Western Australians,
including children, who are currently at extreme risk of family violence?
Mr M.
McGOWAN replied:
The Family Violence Legislation
Reform (COVID-19 Response) Act 2020 has implemented increases in the penalties
for breaching a family violence restraining order, a violence restraining order
or a police order. The fine has increased to $10 000. The limitation period for
the prosecution of a breach of a family violence restraining order has been
raised from one year to two years so that offenders can be held to account for
breaches of orders. There is now an aggravated offence in circumstances of
family violence, so that repeated breaches of an order can result in a more
significant penalty. That is what the legislation that became an act of
Parliament in April of this year did. It has implemented the changes I think
the member was asking for.
Tabling of Paper
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP: On a point of
order, the Premier appeared to be reading from an official document. I ask him
to table it.
Mr M. McGOWAN: Away you go;
go for your lives.
[See paper 3578.]