Offender electronic monitoring
Ms MAXWELL (Northern Victoria) (11:40): My question is to the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence in the other place, following the $20 million promised by the federal government to launch pilot programs in states and territories for electronic monitoring of serious family violence perpetrators. This funding was announced on 18 March by the federal Minister for Women and follows the successive Tasmanian trial of electronic monitoring of family violence perpetrators, called Project Vigilance. The evaluation of the trial showed a substantial reduction in high-risk behaviour such as stalking, assault and making threats. Minister, can the government confirm if it will accept this funding from the federal government and launch a similar trial in Victoria?
Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (11:40): I thank Ms Maxwell for her question. It will require a response from Minister Williams via Minister Stitt, who I am representing, and we will get an answer for you as quickly as possible.
Ms MAXWELL (Northern Victoria) (11:41): Thank you, Attorney. The evaluation of the Tasmanian trial suggested including perpetrators who were identified to have engaged in above-average breaches of intervention orders and those who stalk their victims. In the absence of current electronic monitoring of those perpetrators, could the minister advise what monitoring is in place now to help keep families safe and perpetrators accountable?
Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (11:41): I thank Ms Maxwell for her question. Whilst I will pass on your question to the minister, I can advise that there is a Victorian Law Reform Commission interim report in relation to stalking. You would have seen media reports yesterday of some of the work that police are doing in relation to that issue, making it easier for victims, through pilots, to report this conduct. This will be a topic that will be well canvassed in coming days in advance of a final report into stalking, which, as you know, is due midyear. Although I will get you an answer, I reckon you are just a couple of days early for some of these issues to be well canvassed.