Premier Will Hodgman says he will change law if needed to help domestic violence victims

THE State Government would consider laws to allow the victims of domestic violence better access to compensation, Premier Will Hodgman said today.

Premier Will Hodgman says there are already laws being drafted to assist in the prosecution of domestic violence offenders.

THE State Government would consider laws to allow the victims of domestic violence better access to compensation, Premier Will Hodgman said today.

Solicitor-General Michael O’Farrell, SC, has lodged an appeal against a court decision which opened the way for the victims of emotional abuse to be compensated through victims of crime scheme.

MORE: VIOLENCE CAN INCLUDE EMOTIONAL ABUSE AND INTIMIDATION

Supreme Court Justice Gregory Geason this month ruled that family violence could include “acts which are intended to cause harm other than through the application of force”.

Mr Hodgman said as a White Ribbon Ambassador he was committed to helping achieve better outcomes for the victims of domestic violence.

He said he would wait to see the outcome of the court case and whether legislation was needed.

“Our record shows that we will always do what we can to improve and strengthen our laws,” he said

“So much work has been done over the last four years under my government to reflect the fact that we take this seriously and we need to adapt what is an increased understanding of the forms of family violence and domestic abuse to ensure that our laws are appropriate so they can provide the right level of protection and if changes can be made then of course we will do that.”

Mr Hodgman said there were laws already being drafted to assist the prosecution of domestic violence offenders.

“We’ve also committed to the next session of Parliament to introducing laws that reflect the fact that persistent family violence can be something that’s hard to quantify or to specify for the victim of abuse and violence,” he said.

“So we need to create a new offence whereby a range of actions and conduct over a long period of time can be better prosecuted and an offender held to account.”