Tough laws that ensure GPS tracking of FDV thugs now in force

• Nation-leading laws that compel courts and the Prisoners Review Board to impose electronic monitoring come into effect today
• Focus on repeat and high-risk family violence perpetrators who are on bail or otherwise supervised in the community
• Crackdown complemented by tough new penalties for a range of breaches

Tough new laws that ensure perpetrators of family and domestic violence are electronically monitored are now in force.

Offenders will be tracked using electronic monitoring (EM) as part of bail, sentence, parole and post-sentence supervision under the Cook Labor Government's tough new laws.

The nation-leading reforms compel courts and the Prisoners Review Board to impose EM on repeat and high-risk family violence perpetrators who are on bail or otherwise supervised in the community.

It is estimated that the reforms will apply to around 550 perpetrators in their first year of operation.

The family violence perpetrators captured include those:

• subject to a family violence restraining order (FVRO) and subsequently accused or convicted of a further family violence offence;
• subject to a serial family violence offender declaration who are accused or convicted of a family violence offence; and
• who are subject to an FVRO and released from prison under an early release order or a post-sentence supervision order for a family violence offence.

Failure to wear an approved EM device, permit the installation of an approved EM device at the place where the offender resides or at any other specified place, failure to charge the approved EM device or entering an exclusion zone without reasonable excuse attracts a penalty of up to 3 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $36,000.

Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:

"My Government is committed to eliminating gender-based violence. We've made record investments into the prevention of family and domestic violence and introduced a range of legislative reforms and initiatives to address the problem.

"In 2020, we introduced the largest family violence reform package in the State's history, and today we are building on that.

"Starting today, repeat and high-risk family violence offenders will be shackled and monitored, enabling police to swiftly respond to breaches.

"It is up to all of us to end family and domestic violence, and my Government is committed to keeping innocent victims safe and holding gutless thugs to account."

Comments attributed to Attorney General John Quigley:

"The Cook Government has undertaken significant family violence legislation reform to keep perpetrators accountable and to protect victim-survivors.

"Let's be clear about family violence reform and GPS tracking of offenders in Western Australia - under the previous Liberal Government, the courts had no power to impose GPS tracking on offenders. For eight years they did nothing.

"The Cook Labor Government is the only government that can be trusted to deliver on family violence reform."

Comments attributed to Police Minister Paul Papalia:

"We currently have more police on the frontline in WA than ever before, keeping the community safe. 

"Serial FDV perpetrators subject to GPS tracking will be monitored 24/7 in real-time by Department of Justice personnel at the WA Police State Operations Command Centre.

"Any breach of an offender's restricted movements generates an immediate alert and officers will respond rapidly.

"These tough new laws are just another weapon that the Cook Labor Government has brought in to fight the scourge of family and domestic violence."

Comments attributed to Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Sabine Winton:

"The State Labor Government's commitment to preventing family and domestic violence is long-standing, with more than half a billion dollars invested since 2017.

"This is another practical step our Government is taking to ensure those who choose to use violence are held accountable for their unacceptable behaviours. 

"We know there is always more that can be done, and our Government will continue to work hard to improve safety for victim-survivors."