UPCOMING reforms to Victoria’s family violence laws will help prevent victim-survivors from being wrongly identified as perpetrators, local legal experts say.
The reforms, which are set to come into effect between April and November, include expansion of the definition of family violence to clearly include stalking, systems abuse and animal cruelty; introduction of a two-year default duration for intervention orders; and improvement of safeguards to prevent victim-survivors being wrongly identified as perpetrators. New laws are also set to be put in place to ensure young people remain protected by orders after turning 18; prevent intervention orders being made against children under 12; and allow Victorian courts to issue intervention orders for violence occurring interstate.
The Peninsula Community Legal Centre – a free legal service for people living in the Frankston, Mornington Peninsula, Casey, Cardinia, Glen Eira, and Kingston municipalities – has welcomed the reforms. PCLC CEO Jackie Galloway said that the legal centre helped 6600 clients last year, with nearly half of them affected by family violence.
“Misidentification and systems abuse remain common issues for PCLC clients. Misidentification can have devastating consequences, including exclusion from the home and separation from children. The trauma can last long after the legal issues are resolved,” Galloway said. “Systems abuse—where perpetrators weaponise court, police or child protection processes—can be exhausting and frightening for victim-survivors. Naming systems abuse in the law is an essential step in stopping it.”
The PCLC has specialist family violence services at the Frankston and Moorabbin courts.
For free legal advice about family violence contact PCLC at 9783 3600.
First published in the Mornington News – 31 March 2026
