Domestic violence register and spying ban at heart of Coalition’s $90m plan to combat family abuse

Using electronic devices to intimidate or spy on an intimate partner would be made illegal under Peter Dutton’s $90m plan to crack down on family violence.

Using a phone or computer to intimidate and scare, spy on or track an intimate partner would be criminalised under a Coalition government led by Peter Dutton as part of a $90m pledge to further tackle domestic and family violence in Australia.

The Opposition Leader will on Thursday unveil a suite of new measures to help address the scourge of DV, including the creation of a national domestic violence register for police to access and share information about convicted offenders to better manage risks.

The Coalition’s plan also includes specialist early and behavioural intervention programs and tougher monitoring measures, and expanding the Safe Places Emergency Accommodation Program to assist more victim-survivors and their families escaping violence.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton campaigning in Perth on Wednesday. Picture: Richard Dobson / NewsWire

The Opposition will also move to establish new domestic violence offences by making it a crime to use mobile phone and computer networks to “cause an intimate partner or family member to fear for their personal safety, to track them using spyware or engage in coercive behaviours”, and would ensure “tough” bail laws applied to these new charges.

If elected, Mr Dutton would also lift the threshold for fast-track property settlements in the family law courts, so separating couples with an asset pool of up to $1.5m can resolve matters that do not involve children quickly and fairly.

Mr Dutton said he was personally committed to addressing family and domestic violence in Australia.

“As a former police officer who attended numerous domestic violence call-outs, I know the lifelong impact of these horrific crimes,” he said.

“A government I lead will be focused on delivering real change so that families, women and children are safer and we end family and domestic violence.”

Deputy Opposition Leader and women’s spokeswoman Sussan Ley said the Coalition understood “violence can be at the end of a chain of events across someone’s life”.

“And we know that with the right decisions and the right interventions we can break the cycle and save victim-survivors not only from the most extreme end of violence, but also from disrespectful behaviour and coercion,” she said.

“If we get this right our society will be a safer, happier and healthier place.”

Attorney-General spokeswoman Michaelia Cash said the Coalition was committed to significant legal reforms that would deliver “real change”.

“This comprehensive plan builds on our record of taking practical action to tackle the scourge of family and domestic violence in Australia,” she said.

“This is about providing support every step of the way to ensure a better future for all Australians.”

Originally published as Domestic violence register and spying ban at heart of Coalition’s $90m plan to combat family abuse