Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2023

Public bill · Private Member · Introduced

The Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2023 would change the law so that, in cases involving coercive control, the accused generally could not personally question a child witness or the adult alleged victim in court. Instead, the court would have to invite the accused to arrange for a lawyer to do that questioning, and if needed it could appoint a lawyer to carry it out on the accused’s behalf. A judge could still allow personal questioning if it was necessary in the interests of justice. It matters because it is meant to reduce the trauma and intimidation that can happen when a victim or child has to be questioned directly by the alleged abuser.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to amend and extend the Domestic Violence Act 2018 and, for that purpose, to provide protection in proceedings for the offence of coercive control against cross-examination in person by an accused person of a child witness or an adult witness who is the person in respect of whom the offence is alleged to have been committed and to provide for related matters.

Last updated 30 January 2025