Establish legislation for the Victorian Systemic Review of Family Violence Deaths and provide adequate funding to the Coroners Court

As part of our approach, the Department of Justice and Regulation developed legislative amendments to address recommendations 22, 30(a), 57, 72, 75, 76, 78, 132, 138 and 150 for inclusion in the Family Violence Protection Amendment Act 2017. In doing so, we consulted with stakeholders, including seeking feedback on a draft Bill to identify any technical or policy issues. Stakeholders consulted during this process included representatives across government and non-government organisations within the specialist family violence, justice, children and families, and legal services sectors as well as various committees. For example, the Chief Magistrate’s Family Violence Taskforce, the Family Violence Steering Committee, the Judicial Advisory Group on Family Violence, the Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council, and the LGBTI Justice Working Group.

The Family Violence Protection Amendment Bill 2017 was introduced into Parliament on 7 March 2017 and passed on 10 May 2017.

The legislative amendments relating to this recommendation commenced on 16 November 2017.

In the 2017-18 State Budget, the Coroners Court received $376,000, as part of $1.842 million funding over four years, to support the continuing functions of the Victorian Systemic Review of Family Violence Deaths.