Abused women being urged to check if their intervention order applies nationally
Women who have moved interstate to escape an abuser are being warned to check that court orders protecting them apply nationally.
Women who have moved interstate to escape an abuser are being warned to check that court orders protecting them apply nationally.
However, anyone with an order issued before that date needs to apply to a court to ensure they are covered across Australia.
Abuse survivors have told The Advertiser they did not know they needed to take further action and feared they had been left at risk.
Stacey, who lives in Adelaide but travels nationally for work, is covered by an old intervention order and had no idea it did not automatically extend interstate.
“My ex moves from woman to woman and state to state,” she said.
“I travel a lot for work. You just never know where he is going to be and where he might turn up. There would be a multitude of women who are in the same boat, whether they realise it or not.”
Women’s Safety Services SA director of services Ginny Cisneros said it was “concerning that some people may be slipping through the cracks”.
“If you, or someone you know, has a current domestic violence intervention order that was issued before 25 November last year and you want it to be applied nationwide, we strongly encourage you to apply to have your intervention order declared,” she said.
“You can do this at any local court, it doesn’t need to be in the original state or territory where it was issued, and you can do this at any time.”
Despite the culprits being placed under a court order, the court data shows there are at least eight breaches of the conditions of an intervention order recorded each day.
SA orders remain in place indefinitely, unless a perpetrator applies to have it revoked.
For support, phone 1800 RESPECT.