Family and sexual violence legislative reform

On 13 December 2024, 2 legislative amendments arising from the Family Violence Amendment (Protecting People and Their Pets) Act 2024 became law. These changes included expanding the definition of family violence to include certain conduct committed, or threats made, by a person regarding an animal or causing mental harm or apprehension or fear. 

On 13 December 2024, section 35 of the Police Offences Act 1935 (Tas) was amended to introduce no time limit for starting prosecutions of indecent assault. 

On 16 April 2025, 2 legislative amendments arising from the Family Violence Amendment Act 2025 became law. Section 20 of the Family Violence Act 2004 (Tas) was amended to include Family Violence Order (FVO) extension applications not needing to demonstrate changes in circumstances, since the FVO was last made or varied for it to be considered by the court. Section 34 of the Family Violence Act 2004 was amended to provide for parties to bear their own costs in private FVO applications, other than in cases where the application is coercive, frivolous or vexatious. 

On 16 June 2025 one legislative amendment arising from the Evidence (Children and Special Witnesses) Amendment Act 2025 became law. These changes allow greater flexibility, with a judge, the associate judge or the registrar of the Supreme Court authorised to order editing of audiovisual recordings of affected persons’ evidence (includes child witnesses regarding family violence and child victims of alleged child sexual offences) to remove irrelevant, unduly prejudicial or otherwise inadmissible material. This improves the efficiency and management of proceedings and is a small but important contribution to the operation of this Act reduces the participation of vulnerable witnesses in the criminal justice process.