NEW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PENALTIES
The NSW Government has taken a serious approach to domestic violence offences and made legislative changes. Criminal Lawyers Group have been nationally recognised as the top criminal law firm in NSW for securing the best outcomes for clients who have been charged with domestic violence offences.
This article discusses the recent legislative changes passed by the NSW Government concerning domestic violence offences.
If you or anyone you know have been accused or charged with domestic violence offences, contact our award-winning team of expert criminal lawyers at Criminal Lawyers Group immediately for a free consultation.
WHAT ARE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENCES?
Domestic Violence offences are defined by Section 11 of Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 (NSW), as an offence committed by a person against another person with whom the person who commits the offence has, or has had, a domestic relationship, being:
- a personal violence offence, or
- an offence (other than a personal violence offence) that arises from substantially the same circumstances as those from which a personal violence offence has arisen, or
- an offence under the Crimes Act 1900, section 54D(1), or
- an offence, other than a personal violence offence or an offence mentioned in paragraph (b1), in which the conduct that constitutes the offence is domestic abuse.
WHAT DOES THE CRIMES (DOMESTIC AND PERSONAL VIOLENCE) ACT 2007 (NSW) DO?
The Act aims to achieve its objectives by:
- Empowering courts to make apprehended domestic violence orders to protect people from domestic violence, intimidation (including harassment) and stalking, and
- Ensuring that access to courts is as safe, speedy, inexpensive and simple as is consistent with justice.
WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CRIMES (DOMESTIC AND PERSONAL VIOLENCE) ACT?
The Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 (NSW) seeks to guarantee the safety and protection of all who experience or witness domestic violence, reduce and prevent violence by a person against another person where a domestic relationship exists between those persons.
The Act also seeks to enact provisions that are consistent with certain principles underlying the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women and to enact provisions that are consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Â
WHAT ARE THE RECENT LEGISLATIVE CHANGES?
The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences) Act 2025 (NSW) was passed by the NSW Government and it enshrines a standard non-parole period of 25 years imprisonment for a conviction of the murder of a former or current intimate partner.
This represents a 25% increase to the standard non-parole period of 20 years that applies to murder. This standard non-parole period is among the highest of any offence in NSW and is the first time in Australia that a specific non-parole period for intimate partner homicide has been legislated.
The legislative reform followed the advocacy of Tabitha Acret, whose daughter Mackenzie Anderson was murdered in 2022 by her former partner.
CAN I GET BAIL FOR A CHARGE OF A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENCE?
Yes, you may be granted bail on a charge of a Domestic Violence offence. Our expert criminal lawyers at Criminal Lawyers Group were awarded the best law firm in NSW for securing bail for our clients who have been charged with Domestic Violence offences.
Mr Steven Mercael, Principal and award-winning criminal lawyer at Criminal Lawyers Group, once again secured bail for a client who was charged with a Domestic Violence offence.
CONTACT CRIMINAL LAWYERS GROUP NOW
If you or anyone you know have been accused or charged with a Domestic Violence offence, contact our specialised criminal lawyers at Criminal Lawyers Group immediately for a free consultation so that we may secure the best outcome for you.
Our award-winning team of criminal law experts are nationally recognised for securing not guilty verdicts, bail and the withdrawal of charges for our clients across NSW who have been charged with Domestic Violence offences.