Victoria’s proposed laws to toughen penalties for rape, family violence, and sexual offences

Consensus Summary

Victoria’s Labor government has pledged sweeping reforms to combat sexual and family violence, including life imprisonment for rape and a new manslaughter charge for abusers who drive their partners to suicide. Premier Ben Carroll announced the changes ahead of the November 28 election, framing them as a response to persistent violence against women, with one woman dying every two weeks in the state. The reforms also include tougher penalties for repeat breaches of family violence intervention orders and restrictions on humiliating cross-examination techniques in court, both of which have been criticised for retraumatising victims. These proposals follow high-profile cases, including the deaths of Narelle Simmons in October 2021 and Belinda Jones in July 2023, both of whom were abandoned by abusive partners in urgent need of medical care.

The legal changes build on earlier reforms, such as the August 2024 introduction of coercive control as a standalone offence and the ban on 'good character' defences in sentencing. The government’s push for stricter penalties comes after a Coroners Court review found that 24.5 per cent of 1,172 suicides in Victoria between 2009 and 2016 involved victims who had experienced domestic and family violence. Critics, including Melbourne University’s Professor Heather Douglas, have questioned the lack of consultation on the new laws, with Douglas noting that similar reforms in the UK have led to prosecutions for 'slow femicide'—where coercive control contributes to a victim’s death. Despite the government’s investment of over 3.8 billion dollars in family violence prevention since 2015, recorded police incidents reached a new high in 2024-25, with an 8 per cent increase from the previous year.

Key figures in the debate include Premier Carroll, who emphasised the need for 'tough-on-crime' measures, and Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny, who described the reforms as setting a standard for what Victorians 'will never tolerate.' Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has also weighed in, though her stance on abortion laws—mentioned briefly in THEAGE—was not a focus of the violence reforms. The proposed changes have been welcomed by advocacy groups like Safe and Equal, which highlighted the need for sustained investment in support services alongside legal reforms. However, Douglas cautioned that the new penalties, while symbolic, may only marginally increase deterrence, as current median sentences for sexual offences already range from five to six years.

While both ABC and THEAGE agree on the core proposals, they differ in emphasis. ABC provides detailed accounts of Simmons’ and Jones’ deaths, including the partners’ lack of charges and the coroner’s specific recommendations, whereas THEAGE focuses more on the broader legal and statistical context, such as the 24 per cent breach rate of intervention orders over five years to 2024-25. THEAGE also highlights the government’s lack of consultation with experts, framing the reforms as an election-year response, while ABC ties them more directly to the victims’ stories. Neither source disputes the facts, but THEAGE’s inclusion of Douglas’ 2021 call for suicide investigations adds a layer of historical context missing from ABC’s reporting.

The next steps for these reforms remain unclear, though both articles suggest they are contingent on Labor’s re-election in November. If passed, the laws would mark a significant shift in Victoria’s approach to family and sexual violence, particularly in recognising the links between coercive control and suicide. Advocates like Dr Joumanah El-Matrah of Safe and Equal have stressed the need for additional funding for support services to ensure the legal changes translate into better outcomes for survivors. Meanwhile, legal experts like Douglas have urged careful implementation to avoid unintended consequences, such as overly broad interpretations of the new manslaughter charge or the abandonment offence.