Family Violence Amendment (Protecting People & their Pets) Bill 2024 (No 38)

Tuesday 26 November 2024

Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Mr President, I thank the member for Franklin, Mr David O'Byrne, for bringing this forward in the other place and the member for Elwick, Ms Bec Thomas, for taking carriage. Thank you.

The issue of family violence in Tasmania is both urgent and far‑reaching, with over 32 per cent of Tasmanian women having experienced violence, emotional abuse, or economic abuse from a partner. The impacts are devastating for individuals, families, and entire communities, often echoing across generations. The proposed bill to explicitly include harm to animals as a recognised form of family violence is a simple yet significant reform that addresses an often overlooked facet of this complex issue.

Harm or threats of harm to animals, particularly pets and support animals, are frequently used by perpetrators of family violence to control, intimidate, or coerce victims. Research shows the prevalence of such abuse in a family violence context ranges alarmingly between 12 and 89 per cent. Despite this, Tasmania remains the only jurisdiction in Australia that does not explicitly recognise harm to animals as a form of family violence. This omission leaves a critical gap in both the legal framework and the protections available to victims.

While current Tasmanian legislation includes harm to animals under property damage or emotional abuse definitions, this approach is insufficient. Referring to beloved pets merely as property, fails to reflect their profound emotional significance to victims, who often rely on these animals for comfort and support during traumatic times. Moreover, threats of harm, which are common tactics of coercion, are not adequately addressed. The proposed amendment to section 7 of the Family Violence Act 2004 will align Tasmania with other jurisdictions such as Victoria and Queensland, ensuring that harmed animals and threats thereof are explicitly recognised as forms of family violence.

This change will empower the judiciary and law enforcement to act decisively, providing clearer grounds for issuing police family violence orders (PFVOs), and other interventions. This bill has garnered overwhelming support from advocacy groups like Lucy's Project and Engender Equality, which have tirelessly highlighted the need for such reform. Their work underscores the importance of recognising the unique role animals play in the lives of those affected by family violence and the critical need to protect them. While this bill is a vital step, comprehensively addressing family violence in Tasmania will take ongoing commitment. Listening to victim/survivors and advocacy and reform groups, and taking the advice of law‑reform institutions will be necessary if we are to make meaningful change in the long term.

This bill represents an important, yet overdue, change to Tasmanian law. Explicitly including harm to animals in the definition of family violence reflects modern understandings of the dynamics of abuse and strengthens protections for victims. Simple yet impactful, this reform honours the resilience of victim/survivors, acknowledges the critical work of advocates, and ensures that Tasmania no longer lags behind other states in addressing this type of family violence. I note the bill.