The Tasmanian Government's nation-leading electronic monitoring program is set to be expanded to perpetrators of family violence on bail.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Guy Barnett, said the Government will seek to amend existing legislation to implement further protections for victim-survivors and those at risk of harm.
"The Tasmanian Liberal Government's introduction of electronic monitoring to increase community safety has been nation-leading.
"We are setting out to build on our nation-leading program that ensures the right level of intervention and response from across Government is in place to mitigate risks to victim-survivors," the Attorney-General said.
"The current ability to include electronic monitoring as a condition of a family violence order enables greater monitoring of family violence perpetrators and further mitigates risk to victim-survivors and their children.
"For individuals charged with family violence offences, our system also ensures there is a presumption against bail unless a court is satisfied that the release of a perpetrator on bail would not be likely to adversely affect the safety, wellbeing and interests of victim-survivors and their children.
"The Tasmanian Government remains committed to continuously improving its response to family violence through our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future."
Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation, Madeleine Ogilvie, said Tasmania's nation-leading electronic monitoring program has been carefully built to meet the needs of a modern community.
"Our system is an effective approach that is critical to safeguarding our community," Minister Ogilvie said.
"We have invested carefully and strategically in our monitoring program, drawing on expertise and learnings from national and international jurisdictions.
"Utilising technology to improve community safety is now a core part of community corrections. We have invested carefully to ensure we have the most up-to-date technology and the capacity to do more.
"This legislation helps to ensure perpetrators of family violence are monitored, effectively managed, and victim-survivors are kept safe.
"We do this with the use of cutting edge technology and our expert team at Community Corrections. We will continue to invest in our capacity to deliver this service."
The Tasmanian Government is scoping further legislative amendments to require courts to consider making a family violence order, with any appropriate conditions such as electronic monitoring, whenever a person is charged with a serious family violence offence.
This will provide a focus on family violence risk assessment and support the safety of victim-survivors in Tasmania.
