Expand statutory examples of family violence to include forced marriage and dowry-related abuse

Our work to implement this recommendation includes:

• developing a comprehensive consultation process that captures the varied views among relevant stakeholders to inform the response to this recommendation
• undertaking consultation with stakeholders, including the Chief Magistrate's Family Violence Taskforce, the Family Violence Steering Committee and the Victim Survivors' Advisory Council
• developing the legislation
• working with affected stakeholders to prepare for the legislative amendment to commence

Consultation on this recommendation is a complex and sensitive issue and requires adequate time to ensure appropriate and meaningful engagement with affected stakeholders.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety has consulted with stakeholders, through a consultation paper that outlined a proposal to include forced marriage and dowry-related abuse as examples of family violence in the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Vic) and then through a draft Bill.

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.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety also presented the consultation paper to the Judiciary Advisory Group on Family Violence, the Chief Magistrate's Family Violence Taskforce, the Family Violence Steering Committee, the Victim Survivors' Advisory Council, the LGBTI Justice Working Group and the Koori Caucus Working Group on Family Violence.

Targeted consultation also occurred with the Victorian Multicultural Commission, the Multifaith Advisory Group and organisations that raised this issue with the Royal Commission, including a focus group.

Our consultations informed the development of the Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence Protection and Other Matters) Bill 2018, which was passed by Parliament in August 2018 and addresses this recommendation.

Our work to implement this recommendation is complete. The statutory examples of family violence in section 6 of the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Vic) now include dowry-related family violence and forced marriage. The new examples commenced in March 2019.