George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I think I just did that, Senator Griff, when I told you that the way in which these pilot programs have been set up is that, if domestic or family violence allegations are made in the course of them, they are adjourned to the court. What the government is also doing, since you raise the acute issue of family violence, is, in the other bill that I'll be introducing today, the Family Law Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill, creating new powers to protect against family violence. In particular, we will be introducing a new criminal offence where there is a breach of an order of a Family Court in relation to a family violence matter. Ordinarily courts enforce their orders by contempt proceedings and other forms of civil proceeding, but we are criminalising breaches of court orders in relation to family violence matters. That's something we're doing today. (Time expired)