Review of the implementation of the Family Violence Act 2016 (ACT): Report prepared on behalf of the ACT Government

Across Australia, protection orders (known by various terms, including family violence orders (FVOs) and domestic violence orders (DVOs)) are the primary mechanism in each of the eight jurisdictions’ system-based response to domestic and family violence (DFV). Although there are many differences across these jurisdictions’ legislation, each has been amended numerous times. In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), a number of DFV homicides in 2015, most notably Tara Costigan, and three inquiries aimed at investigating how the ACT was dealing with DFV, resulted in the Family Violence Act 2016 (ACT) (the Act), which took effect on 1 May 2017.

The purpose of this report is to assess to what extent the Act (and its implementation and operation) has increased the protection of family violence (FV) victims, resulted in systemic and/or cultural change and look at possible ways to increase its effectiveness.

By gathering relevant stakeholders’ observations, experiences and ideas concerning the Act, this report is intended to provide the ACT’s law and policy-makers with experiential ideas from the coalface to contribute to ‘best practice’ FV legislation and practice.