Family violence
Ms MAXWELL (Northern Victoria) (12:08): My question is to the Minister for Training and Skills, representing the Minister for Corrections in the other place, and it is regarding the $20 million promised by the former Liberal federal government to launch pilot programs in states and territories for electronic monitoring of serious family violence perpetrators. This announcement followed the success of Tasmania’s trial of electronic monitoring of family violence perpetrators, called Project Vigilance. The evaluation of the trial showed a substantial reduction in high-risk behaviours such as stalking, assault and making threats. With the change of government at a federal level and I imagine a stronger level of cooperation that may result between Victoria and the federal government, will the minister advocate for a similar pilot for electronic monitoring of serious family violence perpetrators in Victoria?
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:08): I thank Ms Maxwell for her question. I will seek a response from the Minister for Corrections in line with the standing orders.
Ms MAXWELL (Northern Victoria) (12:09): Thank you, Minister. The evaluation of the Tasmanian trial suggests its success over the longer term requires case-managed behaviour change programs for perpetrators alongside electronic monitoring. The Victorian family violence reform implementation monitor said demand for programs continues to be unmet and not enough is known about the effectiveness of the interventions. I therefore ask the minister to provide the available data on completion rates for behaviour change programs as a condition of a corrections order for 2021–22.
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:09): I did not quite hear the last bit. Was that in terms of all people that have left incarceration or those that have been subject to family violence orders?
Ms Maxwell: Either, Minister—so completion rates for behaviour change programs.
Ms TIERNEY: Thank you. I will refer that to the Minister for Corrections.