House of Assembly passes Jari’s Law following young dad’s death and after years of campaigning
A new law aimed at compelling a public inquest in cases of suspected family violence deaths has moved closer to becoming reality in Tasmania.
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A new law aimed at compelling a public inquest in cases of suspected family violence deaths has moved closer to becoming reality in Tasmania.
The legislative amendment to the Coroners Act, widely known as “Jari’s Law”, has come about following years of campaigning by the grieving mother of deceased Huon Valley man, Jari Wise, Faith Tkalac.
While Jari’s Law passed the House of Assembly in November last year, the amendment was not finalised in the Legislative Council before the Tasmanian state election was held in March this year.
That meant the process needed to begin again.
On Thursday, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Guy Barnett said the Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2024 had passed the House of Assembly – which was a “step closer to honouring a significant commitment”.
“These amendments are consistent with the government’s commitment to improving the operation of the law for victims of family violence,” Mr Barnett said.
“It is critical the government’s response to protecting those exposed to family violence is informed by evidence, and an understanding of the circumstances that contribute to family violence related deaths.
“Jari’s Law means obtaining these answers is made more likely.”
The Bill was originally introduced by former Attorney-General Elise Archer, who made an extraordinary intervention into the Jari Wise case in 2023 when she overruled the Supreme Court of Tasmania and ordered the coroner to hold a public inquest.
The amendment must now also be passed by the Legislative Council before it can be proclaimed and come into effect.
Mr Wise, 26, died at Huonville in February 2020 when he was struck by a car driven by his on-off girlfriend, Melissa Oates.
Oates served eight months in jail for dangerous driving, drink driving and failing to stop and assist in an accident, but was not charged with causing Mr Wise’s death.
Mr Cooper found there was no evidence Oates deliberately hit Mr Wise with her car.
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