Domestic Violence Act 2023 Updates: What Survivors Should Know
Break down the 2023 Domestic Violence Amendment Act changes, from digital abuse definitions to the integrated electronic protection-order repository.
Why the 2023 amendment matters
Legislators expanded the Act to address technology-facilitated abuse, strengthen police accountability, and streamline record keeping. Survivors now benefit from electronic submissions, mandatory capturing of every order, and clearer duties for peace officers under sections 3 to 8.
Digital abuse is explicitly covered
Section 1 now lists repeated electronic contact, unauthorised access to accounts, GPS tracking, and sharing intimate images without consent as harassment. This means screenshots, metadata, and app logs are persuasive evidence for interim relief.
New harassment behaviours recognised in section 1
Each bar highlights a conduct item that now triggers protection without needing to rely on older harassment statutes.
Integrated electronic repository
Clerks must capture applications, interim orders, final orders, and every return of service on the national repository (sections 4(7), 5(3)(c), and 6(6)(b)). This closes the gap where police stations could not confirm current orders. Always ask for the repository reference when you file.
What survivors and lawyers should do now
Make the amendments work for you
Implications for legal teams
Firms should update intake questionnaires to flag digital evidence, build templates that reference section 1(i) to (o), and liaise with clerks about repository capture. Train staff on domestic violence safety monitoring notices so they can advise clients sharing a home with respondents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
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