Arabic version: كوينزلاند تقترح عقوبات أشد على خرق أوامر الحماية

According to ABC News, the Queensland government is set to introduce proposed laws creating tougher domestic and family violence offences, including increased penalties for people who breach protection orders. The legislation is expected to be introduced in parliament on Thursday.

The measures would create new offences for repeated contraventions of a Police Protection Direction or a Domestic Violence Order. Police Protection Directions allow officers to immediately direct perpetrators not to commit domestic and family violence against someone, with fines or jail possible for non-compliance.

Under the proposal, the duration of a Police Protection Direction would rise from 12 months to three years. The maximum penalty for breaching an order would increase from three years to five years. The government also plans to expand a trial requiring high-risk offenders to wear electronic ankle monitors statewide, while requiring courts to consider a device as part of a Domestic Violence Order.

Police Minister Dan Purdie said the changes were intended to ease police workloads and help officers rapidly protect victims. He said the measures would remove barriers that can require police to go to court to implement an order.

The proposal follows debate over whether Queensland should narrow the definition of a domestic and family violence victim for Police Protection Directions. Queensland Police Union president Shane Prior supported the changes but urged a definition limited to intimate partner relationships for police orders. Premier David Crisafulli later ruled out narrowing the meaning of relevant relationships under the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Act. Domestic and family violence sector experts are expected to be briefed on Thursday.