Happy International Women’s Day, unless you’re a woman trapped in the cycle of domestic violence, dismissed by police when reporting coercive control, or told your injuries don’t quite meet the threshold for concern. For too many, the celebration of women’s achievements feels like a hollow gesture when safety and justice remain out of reach for all women.
Two weeks ago, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs released a damning report on Family Violence Orders across Australia. The findings were clear: our fractured and inconsistent approach to family violence is failing women. It’s a sobering reminder that while Australia has made strides in championing gender equality, the legal system meant to protect victim-survivors of domestic violence still has gaping holes.
The report highlighted a glaring issue: the patchwork of laws and practices across states and territories creates a “Local Court Lottery” where the outcomes for victim-survivors depend more on their postcode than their circumstances. Some states provide robust protections, while others leave women to navigate an inconsistent and often dismissive system. New South Wales, notably, did not even engage with this inquiry, leaving critical questions unanswered.
This disparity is not just an inconvenience, it’s a matter of safety. Right now, Australia has two competing systems. On one side is the Commonwealth’s Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, which handles family law matters like parenting, property settlements, and family violence orders. On the other side are the state-based systems where police issue Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVOs) to protect people in domestic relationships. The lack of alignment between these systems creates confusion, delays, and, most worryingly, significant gaps where women can fall through the cracks.
I see this too often in my practice. Women who summon the courage to report coercive control or economic abuse are frequently met with a lack of understanding. Many encounter dismissive police officers who turn them away, telling them that their experiences don’t meet the threshold for intervention. They are left standing at the front desk of their local station, already vulnerable, only to be told, “This is a family law issue, not a police issue.” It’s a devastating blow, and it sends a dangerous message: your safety doesn’t matter here.
The Albanese government’s Family Law Amendment Bill 2024, which passed last year, is a step in the right direction. By making family violence relevant in property and financial settlements, it acknowledges the lasting impact abuse can have on a victim-survivor’s financial security. Previously, the so-called ‘Kennon claim’ set an unreasonably high bar, requiring that physical violence had a “discernible impact” on the victim’s ability to contribute financially to the asset pool. This left many women without fair financial recognition of the abuse’s long-term effects on their mental health, employment prospects, and relationships.
The new amendments promise to change this. They expand the definition of economic abuse, include clear examples of financial control, and recognise coercive behaviour as a form of abuse. The Court will now also consider how pets and companion animals are treated, an often overlooked form of control used by abusers to exert psychological pressure.
But legislation alone isn’t enough. Without a cultural shift in how police and legal institutions understand family violence, these reforms risk becoming empty promises. The Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia has raised concerns that without additional resources, increased demand could inflate legal costs and further burden the court system. This cannot become yet another barrier for victim-survivors seeking justice.
What Australia needs now is a uniform, consistent approach to family violence at every touchpoint, from the moment a woman seeks help from the police to her experiences in the courtroom. This means standardising the responses to family violence across all jurisdictions, providing adequate training to law enforcement, and ensuring victim-survivors are met with empathy, understanding, and action.
For too long, women have been told to wait. To be patient. To accept that change takes time. But patience doesn’t protect them from harm. Uniformity in our legal system does.
2025 could be a turning point for women’s rights in Australia. But it will only happen if we remain vigilant, continue to push for reform, and hold our institutions accountable. The time for empty gestures and half-measures is over. What we need now is policy, funding, and systemic change to support real justice for women.
If you’re a business leader, use your influence to advocate for national consistency in family violence laws. If you’re an individual, write to your local MP and demand change. Together, we can build a safer, fairer future for all women.