Victorian Labor to Introduce New Offences Addressing Domestic Violence Loopholes > 월드뉴스

The Victorian Labor government has announced plans to introduce two new offences aimed at addressing gaps in the legal system that have allowed domestic violence perpetrators to evade justice. Premier Ben Carroll is set to reveal this commitment during an election announcement on Sunday. The proposed legislation includes a new form of manslaughter for cases where a victim takes their own life due to family violence and a separate offence for abandoning a victim who requires medical assistance.

These initiatives come in response to recommendations from the coroner following the tragic deaths of Belinda Jones and Narelle Simmons. Jones, who was 40 years old, died in her Maryborough home in July 2023 after her partner left her unattended overnight and delayed calling for medical help. She succumbed to treatable infections that went undiagnosed during a prior hospital visit.

The coroner, Liberty Sanger, stated that the act of abandoning a victim in need of medical care constitutes an act of family violence that reinforces the perpetrator's control over the victim. In a separate case, Simmons, aged 42, died in October 2021 after her partner assaulted her and subsequently left her alone. Her body was discovered nine days later after her daughter requested a welfare check.

Simmons' partner, who had a history of domestic violence, was sentenced to five months in prison after pleading guilty to common assault and failing to report her death. The government has emphasized that the new offences will close existing loopholes that allow perpetrators to escape accountability.

In addition to the new offences, the Labor government plans to increase the maximum penalty for rape from 25 years to life imprisonment. Other serious sexual offences will see their maximum penalties raised by five years, and the penalty for persistent breaches of family violence intervention orders will double from five to ten years.

The government will also amend the Evidence Act to prevent the use of degrading questioning techniques on victims during court proceedings. This change is aimed at creating a more supportive environment for victim-survivors. Courts will also be permitted to consider patterns of sexual abuse as evidence during trials.

These announcements follow a week focused on crime-related issues in the lead-up to the election, highlighting the government's commitment to reforming laws related to domestic violence and ensuring justice for victims.