The Law Reform Commission of WA (LRC) has released the Discussion Paper in relation to Enhancing Laws Concerning Family and Domestic Violence (http://www.lrc.justice.wa.gov.au/P/project_104.aspx).
The Discussion Paper makes 53 proposals and poses 29 questions in regards to issues of:
– police responses
– restraining orders
– criminal offences
– criminal practice and procedure
– specialist family violence courts
– interactions of violence restraining orders with the Family Court
– victim rights
– criminal injuries compensation
– other matters
– separate legislation
The LRC is seeking submissions responding to the proposals and questions by 31 January 2014. When the Commission has received all responses and submissions they will collate and consider the feedback and produce a final report regarding their findings. This report will also make recommendations in regards to enhancing legislation/practice/policy/resource/etc.
If you would like to make a submission:
If you are interested in making a submission, the first thing you may wish to do is to ask for an extension. To do this, simply send an email to the LRC (lrcwa@justice.wa.gov.au) explaining why you are unable to make the deadline and requesting an extension. As the deadline is quite tight, it could be likely that the LRC may formally request the Attorney-General to extend the final reporting date.
Secondly, attached are the questions/proposals being considered. It may be convenient to use this document as the base for your submission.
Simply delete the questions/proposal irrelevant to you or which you are not interested in responding to and insert any issues/proposals outside of the scope provided, as you see fit. I have also attached an info sheet regarding how to draft a law reform submission, FYI.
If you are unable/do not have capacity to complete a submission, you may be interested in endorsing the DV Network’s/Women’s Council’s submission, which will be sent around in due course. Also, if you have a few issues/concerns, but do not have the capacity to complete a submission, feel free to drop me a line or give me a ring and I may be able to incorporate your concerns into the Network’s submission.
Please feel free to contact Heidi Guldbaek (see below) if you have any questions/concerns.
Heidi Guldbaek
Coordinator – Domestic Violence Legal Workers Network
WOMEN’S LAW CENTRE
(08) 9272 8855
heidi@wlcwa.org.au
PO Box 3182, East Perth WA 6892
