Tackle violence – Keeping violent locked up reform

Premier Chris Minns said it’s part of “long overdue” reforms to “help keep women and children safer”.
THE State Government will introduce significant legal reforms that will make it more difficult for those accused of serious domestic violence offences to get bail.
Reforms will include reversing the presumption of bail for serious domestic violence offences by expanding the category of “show cause” offences, requiring alleged offenders to demonstrate why they should be out in the community.
It will apply to serious domestic violence offences committed by intimate partners, including sexual assault, strangulation with intent to commit another offence and kidnapping, with a maximum penalty of 14 or more years jail; and for coercive control, which will be a criminal offence from July 1.
It follows the State Government’s commitment of $230 million over four years as part of an emergency package to improve support for domestic and family violence victim-survivors through primary prevention, early intervention and crisis response measures.
State MP for East Hills, Kylie Wilkinson, said the package would empower victim-survivors and children to escape and recover from violence in the safety of their home and the support of local networks.
“Domestic and family violence has destroyed too many lives in NSW. The East Hills electorate is not immune from this scourge,” she said.
“I’ve worked for years with community organisations to deliver direct support for women and children fleeing domestic and family violence.
“This emergency package is informed by the experience of victim-survivors and experts in the DV sector.”