Tuesday, 30 May 2023

Stalking law reform

David LIMBRICK (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:21): (252) My adjournment matter today is for the attention of the Attorney-General and is related to the Victorian Law Reform Commission’s report into stalking. I would like to acknowledge that the government have taken some steps to improve some elements of the justice system, making changes to the processes around personal safety intervention orders and working with Victoria Police to implement recommendations from the Victorian Law Reform Commission’s interim report on stalking. The Attorney-General has also indicated the government’s commitment to further work in this space, stating it on the record in previous debates and demonstrating it by referring the matter to the Victorian Law Reform Commission in the first place.

This inquiry represents a significant body of work. The combined interim and final reports total over 250 pages with 47 recommendations. The law reform commission received 115 submissions, and 254 people completed an online survey of their experiences of stalking. In addition to commending the team, which has produced a very detailed and comprehensive report, I would also like to quote the chairperson, the Honourable Anthony North KC, from the foreword of the report:

A special acknowledgement should be reserved for Aggie Di Mauro. In the depth of her despair from the death of her daughter Celeste Manno under terrible circumstances, she successfully pressed the Attorney-General to investigate the law relating to stalking to save others the grief which she has suffered.

The experts that have contributed to this report and the victims of stalking that have shared their experiences have helped to highlight an issue that has frequently been under-acknowledged, under-reported and poorly understood. The recommendations cover a range of areas, including justice system improvements, improved research and reporting, better education and improvements to both support services and assistance for victims of stalking in accessing both justice system options and support services. They also overlap with several recommendations from the report into the justice system, which the government is overdue to respond to.

It is good work, both comprehensive and innovative, but a response from the government has not yet been provided. The 254 people who completed the survey outlining the impact to their lives of stalking behaviour are waiting for a response. My request for the Attorney is to provide a formal response to the law reform commission report or, at a minimum, provide a time line for the government’s response.