Apprehended violence orders are now nationally recognised and enforceable, with residents protected on one side of the Murray River no longer needing to register the order interstate.
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Border police say the changes, which came into effect at the weekend, will save time, resources and re-traumatisation of victims.
The Council of Australian Governments committed to a national domestic violence order scheme in 2015.
NSW cross border commissioner James McTavish said the scheme had taken longer than intended to establish, but it would be ‘game-changing’.
“NSW passed the legislation last year and we’ve been working with other jurisdictions to get this finalised,” he said.
“Any order issued in NSW is now legally enforceable in all other jurisdictions.
“We’re also looking at child protection matters and sharing of information between jurisdictions.”
Leading Senior Constable Troy Bakic, of the Wodonga Family Violence Unit, said the changes took the onus off the person seeking protection.
“It became the role of the victim or affected family member to physically take that order to the court in their state,” he said.
“Sometimes they weren't comfortable with it, or they weren't even informed they could do it.
“Unfortunately, if the order wasn't registered in Victoria, we wouldn't know it existed, and it wouldn't have made a difference, because we couldn't enforce it.
“Now, they are not required to attend that court process – as long as the order is active and served, the order is nationally recognised.
“Victoria has taken the extra step of including all intervention orders that are current and served, not just those made from November 25 – we're looking at it retrospectively.”
Leading Senior Constable Bakic said police no longer ‘had their hands tied’ in enforcing breeches.
“Inside court hours, if we believe an order may exist in another state we can make those inquiries with the court or police in that state,” he said.
“Outside hours, there will be a national register of sorts where we can make contact.
“We will be informed whether or not there is a nationally-recognised order, whether we can act on it, and enforce it.”
Previously, if a person enacted an intervention order in Wodonga and the offender lived in Albury, the order had to be served on that person and proof of that action provided to Albury court, for it to be recognised in both states – and vice versa.
But often paperwork about the order was faxed to the respective court or police station and picked up on the spot, making progress hard to track.
Leading Senior Constable Bakic said the scheme should reduce these nuances.
“Being local policemen, it will be something we come across regularly,” he said.
“It will save a lot of time and resources for us.”
On each of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (November 25 to December 10), The Border Mail will be sharing the stories of survivors and the work of people who are creating a society where women and men feel safe and respected.
If you have a story you think should be shared, email ellen.ebsary@fairfaxmedia.com.au