High-risk domestic violence perpetrators in Western Australia will soon be tracked with electronic monitoring devices, under new laws introduced today.
The Family Violence Legislation Reform Bill 2024, introduced to state parliament on Wednesday, will see repeat and high-risk domestic violence offenders tracked across Western Australia’s justice system, including as part of bail, sentencing, parole and post-sentence supervision.
It is estimated the new laws will apply to about 550 domestic violence perpetrators each year, who will be forced to wear the monitoring devices.
The laws will capture perpetrators who are subject to a family violence restraining order and are subsequently accused or convicted of a family violence offence, as well as those who are subject to a serial family violence offender declaration, or those released from prison early or placed under a supervision order.
The state government first committed to this legislation last year.
The new laws will also ensure perpetrators who breach directions set by a community corrections officer can be immediately arrested without a warrant. New offences will also be created for failing to comply with a CCO’s directions, punishable by up to three years in prison and a $36,000 fine.
The changes have been introduced to parliament this week following a spate of recent high-profile murders of women by men in Perth. In May, while looking for his ex-wife and daughter, Mark Bombara shot and killed their friends, 59-year-old Jennifer Petelczyc and her 18-year-old daughter Gretl in their Floreat home.
In the wake of the murders, Bombara’s daughter, Ariel, said she felt “let down” by the way the authorities responded to her concerns about the threat her father posed on herself and her mother.
“I did everything I could to protect my mother — when my father couldn’t find us he murdered her best friend and her best friend’s daughter,” she said at the time.
On Wednesday, Minister for the Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Sabine Winton said the Western Australian government was committed to eliminating gender-based violence.
“Electronic monitoring, in the context of family and domestic violence offenders, must be seen as part of the suite of responses available,” Winton said.
“It cannot be the single response to keeping perpetrators accountable.”
Western Australia has not criminalised coercive control, however the new changes also include an amendment to the Restraining Orders Act 1997 to include a reference to patterned nature of coercive control behaviours and their cumulative effect in the definition of family violence.
The change will mean the justice system will need to consider the impact of multiple acts over a period of time to ensure these behaviours are recognised as family violence.
“The amendment in relation to coercive control is the first legislative reform as part of a phased response to the criminalisation of coercive control,” Attorney General John Quigley said.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au.
Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.