Premier Ben Carroll has unveiled a $31.5 million family violence election package, joining the opposition in promising a domestic violence disclosure scheme, banning convicted offenders from dating apps, and expanding the state's crackdown on recording-enabled smart glasses if Labor is re-elected on November 28.
The package includes "Clare's Law", a domestic violence disclosure scheme modelled on South Australia's laws. Under the proposal, individuals could ask police to check a partner's history of abuse and violence, and officers could proactively warn someone they believe is at risk. "You deserve to know if your partner has a secret violent past," Carroll said.
Named after British woman Clare Wood, murdered by her ex-partner in 2009, the commitment matches a pledge made by the Victorian Liberal Party in July to introduce a similar scheme within 100 days of winning office. South Australia has operated its version since 2018.
Carroll also announced plans to expand Labor's proposed ban on smart glasses, which allow users to record video from their point of view. If re-elected, the technology would be banned at swimming pools, change rooms, community sports venues, hospitals, aged care homes and family violence services, building on the previously announced ban for schools, kindergartens and childcare centres. "Tech has changed, so must our laws," Carroll said. "Creeps shouldn't be able to secretly film kids at Saturday sport."
Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said data showed a third of people in the past five years had been sexually assaulted by someone they met on a dating app or website. Under Labor's pledge, it would become a criminal offence for people convicted of family violence or sexual offences to use dating apps. Coroners would also be given the power to appoint an alternative next of kin in cases involving family violence allegations, charges or estrangement.
The funding pledge includes $15.5 million for the family violence support service Orange Door and $16 million for a new Early Intervention and Prevention fund.
Monash University professor Kate Fitz-Gibbon, a national family violence research expert, welcomed the funding boost but said it was "a pity it takes a forthcoming election to receive this". She cautioned that research had found limited evidence that disclosure schemes prevent violence. "Victim-survivors deserve more than policies that sound good in an election campaign," she said. Phillip Ripper, chief executive of No To Violence, said $4 million per year over the term of the next government was "a drop in the ocean" compared to the billions spent on police and courts responding to violence.
The state's peak family violence body, Safe and Equal, welcomed the investment. Chief executive Dr Joumanah El-Matrah said the $15.5 million for support workers was "a vital boost" and that restrictions on smart glasses and on the use of dating platforms by people convicted of family or sexual violence sent an "important signal" for people's safety.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The package represents a central election pitch on an issue that has been a defining problem for Victorian Labor since the 2014 Royal Commission into Family Violence.
- It raises a debate over whether popular policies like Clare's Law have a strong evidence base compared to sustained funding for frontline services.
- The bans on smart glasses and dating apps signal a new wave of technology-focused regulation aimed at preventing violence against women.
Background
Family violence has been a paramount political issue in Victoria since the 2014 Royal Commission into Family Violence. Despite a decade of Labor government, the issue remains a major challenge. Both major parties are now promising similar disclosure schemes.
Key Perspectives
Premier Ben Carroll: The disclosure scheme is necessary so partners "deserve to know" about a violent past.
Professor Kate Fitz-Gibbon (Monash University): Welcomed the funding but said disclosure schemes have "limited evidence" of preventing violence and warned against prioritizing "policies that sound good in an election campaign".
Phillip Ripper (No To Violence): Called the $4 million a year "a drop in the ocean" compared to downstream costs of policing and courts.
Dr Joumanah El-Matrah (Safe and Equal): Welcomed the funding as a "vital boost" and the technology restrictions as an "important signal".
What to Watch
- Whether the November 28 election returns Labor and allows the promises to be implemented.
- The degree to which the disclosure scheme is actually utilized and its effectiveness evaluated.
- How councils and venues enforce the expanded smart glasses ban.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedLabor’s family violence election package totals $31.5 million.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “deliver a $31.5 million funding boost to the family violence sector”
- SupportedThe package allocates $15.5 million to Orange Door and $16 million to a new Early Intervention and Prevention fund.Just In: “The government's election pledge includes $15.5 million more for the Orange Door and $16 million for a new Early Intervention and Prevention fund.”
- SupportedLabor announced the package on the condition it is re-elected on November 28.Just In: “Labor today announced it will introduce Clare's Law if re-elected on November 28, as well as banning smart glasses in more settings.”
- SupportedThe Victorian Liberal Party promised in July to introduce a similar disclosure scheme within 100 days of winning office.Just In: “The Victorian opposition promised in July to introduce a domestic violence disclosure scheme within 100 days if it wins office.”
- SupportedUnder the disclosure scheme, people could ask police about a partner’s history, and police could proactively warn someone they deem at risk.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “people could ask police on behalf of a friend or family member who they believe is in a dangerous relationship, and police can proactively tell someone if they deem their safety is at risk.”
- SupportedThe expanded smart-glasses ban would cover pools, change rooms, community sporting venues, hospitals, aged-care settings and family-violence services.Just In: “Swimming pools, change rooms, community sporting venues, hospitals, aged care settings, and services supporting victim-survivors of family violence would be included”
- SupportedLabor would make it a criminal offence for people convicted of family violence or sexual offences to use dating apps.Just In: “If re-elected, Labor would also make it a criminal offence for people convicted of family violence or sexual offending to use dating apps.”
- SupportedKilkenny said data showed that a third of people in the past five years had been sexually assaulted by someone they met on a dating app or website.Just In: “"Data is showing us that a third of people in the past five years have been sexually assaulted by someone they met on a dating app or website," Ms Kilkenny said.”
- SupportedFitz-Gibbon said research found limited evidence that disclosure schemes prevent violence.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““Our research has found limited evidence that domestic violence disclosure schemes actually prevent violence or improve safety outcomes,” she said.”
- SupportedCarroll said, “You deserve to know if your partner has a secret violent past.”Just In: “"You deserve to know if your partner has a secret violent past," Premier Ben Carroll said.”
- SupportedFitz-Gibbon said, “Victim-survivors deserve more than policies that sound good in an election campaign.”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““Victim-survivors deserve more than policies that sound good in an election campaign. They deserve sustained investment and evidence-based reforms that will make a meaningful difference to their safety.””
- SupportedRipper called the $4 million per year “a drop in the ocean” compared with spending on police and courts responding to violence.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““Sadly, the $4 million per year over the term of the next government is a drop in the ocean compared to the billions of dollars spent every year on police and courts responding to violence after the damage is done,” he said.”