Thursday, 13 November 2025

 Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Government Services, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Women) (09:34): I move:

That I introduce a bill for an act to amend the Family Violence Protection Act 2008, the Crimes Act 1958, the Criminal Procedure Act 2009, the Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1958, the Jury Directions Act ‍2015 and the Personal Safety Intervention Orders Act 2010 and for other purposes’.

Motion agreed to.

 Cindy McLEISH (Eildon) (09:34): I request a brief explanation of the bill from the minister.

 Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Government Services, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Women) (09:34): The Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence, Stalking and Other Matters) Bill 2025 will introduce key reforms to protect all Victorians, particularly women and children, from violence and abuse at the hands of their loved ones, which unfortunately occurs in our society. It strengthens the family violence intervention order and the framework that sits around that here in Victoria to ensure that victim-survivors are safer for longer and from a broad range of abusive behaviours, all whilst holding perpetrators to account. It will also make changes to the stalking offence, as well as extending the circumstances in which a personal safety intervention order can be made, and make key court procedural changes in relation to sexual offences trials.

Read first time.

Ordered to be read second time tomorrow.