Review of family violence laws: Government discussion document released

Update: Submissions now close on 25 September 2015. Justice Minister Amy Adams has released a discussion document on New Zealand's legislative response to family violence.

The Clearinghouse has published a reading guide to assist people making submissions. It provides access to relevant research and legislation, from New Zealand and internationally. It covers a wide range of topics relevant to the review.

Strengthening New Zealand’s legislative response to family violence: A public discussion document, a summary and information about how to make submissions is available on the Ministry of Justice website. Submissions deadline is now 25 September 2015.

The discussion document sets out preliminary ideas and questions, rather than a proposed package of reforms. It covers a range of issues in five parts: understanding family violence, victim safety, prosecuting family violence perpetrators, an additional pathway to safety, and better services for victims, perpetrators and whānau.

The discussion document is the first step in a process. After the consultation period, Ministry of Justice officials will provide policy options to the Justice Minister. The Justice Minister may then seek Cabinet's agreement to her preferred options. If Cabinet agrees, a Bill will be drafted. There would then be an opportunity for making submissions on the Bill to a Parliamentary Select Committee.

The discussion paper was broadly welcomed by Women's Refuge, Shine, White Ribbon, the Green Party and the Labour Party. Responses to the discussion document are in the media coverage below.

Media

Government Not Prepared to Act Against Paedophiles, Press Release: NZ First Party, Scoop, 21.10.2015

Court decision sanctions child abuse - McVicar, Voxy, 21.10.2015

Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Abuse Need To Be Heard, Press Release: Safer Aotearoa Family Violence Prevention Network, Scoop, 21.10.2015

Legal aid rules not failing domestic violence victims says minister, Radio NZ, 20.10.2015

Queensland Parliament passes new domestic violence laws granting victims 'special witness' status, ABC, 16.10.2015

OPINION: Violence not just a poor, brown issue, Wairarapa Times-Age, 08.10.2015

'No evidence Three Strikes rule works', NZ Herald, 02.10.2015

Cruelty in home escalating: agency, NZ Herald, 02.10.2015

'These are crimes of ownership not love', NZ Herald, 01.10.2015

Catriona MacLennan: Why doesn't she leave?, NZ Herald, 01.10.2015

Call for laws to protect disabled from abuse, Radio NZ, 25.09.2015

Organisations call for overhaul of domestic violence laws, Voxy, 25.09.2015

Justice minister hears from front-line staff, Times Live, 24.09.2015

Calls to include animals in family violence legislation, Manawatu Standard, 18.09.2015

Domestic violence victims need more support, Stuff, 14.09.2015

Hutt audience has plenty to say as Amy Adams outlines domestic violence changes, Dominion Post, 10.09.2015

Steps to combat family violence, Southland Times, 08.09.2015

Hope for consensus on new domestic violence reforms, NewsTalk ZB, 07.09.2015

Family violence review submissions closing soon, Beehive, 04.09.2015

Intervention key to avoid tragedy, Wairarapa Times-Age, 02.09.2015

Forum to discuss family violence laws, Wanganui Chronicle, 02.09.2015

Protection orders should have an expiry date - MPs, Stuff, 28.08.2015

Domestic violence courts could be part of shake-up, Stuff, 28.08.2015

Let's moblise against domestic violence, Press Release: National Council of Women of New Zealand, Scoop, 26.08.2015

Jarrod Gilbert: Child abuse anger robbing focus from prevention, NZ Herald, 25.08.2015

Seven warning signs you're in a dangerous relationship, Opinon: NZ Herald, 21.08.2015

Catriona MacLennan: Bid to cut family violence needs cash backing, NZ Herald, 20.08.2015

John Sargeant: Domestic abuse is Taranaki's dirty little secret, Taranaki Daily News, 15.08.2015

National Council of Women Speech - Domestic Violence, Catriona MacLennan Blog, 14.08.2015

Autistic boy's father fears for son under family violence review, Stuff, 14.08.2015

Anne Tolley: Child deaths 'not on my watch', Paul Henry, 13.08.2015

Families urged to watch out for child abuse, NewsTalk ZB, 13.08.2015

Law review welcomed, Stratford Press, 12.08.2015

Child deaths everyone's problem, NZ Radio, 12.08.2015

Child abuse not someone else's problem - expert, 3 News, 12.08.2015

Family violence review exciting for whānau, Radio NZ, 10.08.2015

Domestic Violence Review - consideration of treatment, Press Release: NZ Association of Psychotherapissts, 09.08.2015

Sensible Sentencing Trust Congratulates Minister of Justice, Press Release: Sensible Sentencing Trust, 08.08.2015

Duncan Garner: Gutsy stuff from Adams to hit the bullies where it hurts, Editorial, Stuff, 08.08.2015

Editorial: Scourge of family violence requires law changes, Dominion Post, 07.08.2015

CHESTER BORROWS: Kids will keep getting bashed until we change our attitude, Editorial, Wanganui Chronicle, 07.08.2015

A stand against family violence, Editorial: Otago Daily Times, 07.06.2015

Otaki pilot aims to change NZ’s high rates of family violence through informed screening, NZ Doctor Online, 06.08.2015

Injury Prevention Aotearoa welcomes family violence review, Press Release: Injury Prevention Network, 06.08.2015

Importance of Māori views highlighted in review of family violence laws, Māori TV, 06.08.2015

Trust calls for three-strikes law, Bay of Plenty Times, 06.08.2015

Justice portfolio could be the making of Adams, NZ Herald, 06.08.2015

Killing the family pet could become a crime in law overhaul, Stuff, 06.08.2015

Family violence paper gets mixed reviews, Rotorua Daily Post, 06.08.2015

Justice Minister: Domestic violence overhaul a conversation, 3 News, 05.08.2015

Police may gain power to warn of a partner's violent history, TVNZ, 05.08.2015

Proposed tough new domestic violence laws, Radio New Zealand (Nine to Noon), 05.08.2015

What does the government plan to do around domestic violence and protection orders? Radio Live, 05.08.2015

Women's Refuge hails Govt moves as 'most exciting in 20 years’, NZ Herald, 05.08.2015

Response to discussion paper “Strengthening New Zealand’s legislative response to family violence”, Media release: White Ribbon, 05.08.2015

New blueprint for domestic violence laws unveiled, Radio New Zealand, 05.08.2015 

'There is no silver bullet' - review of domestic violence laws launched, TVNZ, 05.08.2015

Minister: Domestic violence risk trumps privacy, Newstalk ZB, 05.08.2015   

Domestic violence initiative gets praise from Labour, Greens, 3News, 05.08.2015 

Domestic violence laws in for a shake-up, 3 News, 05.08.2015

Adams tackles privacy paralysis, NZ Herald, 05.08.2015 

Government puts microscope on 'horrific' domestic violence problem, Stuff, 05.08.2015

Women's Refuge say there's a need for more dedicated domestic violence courts and judges, Māori TV, 05.08.2015

Family violence: Hurdle for law change, Northern Advocate, 05.08.2015  

Family violence overhaul long overdue, Press release: Labour Party, Scoop, 05.08.2015

Fresh look at family violence laws, Press Release: New Zealand Government, Scoop, 05.08.2015

Ideas for family violence law changes welcomed, Press release: Green Party, Scoop, 05.08.2015  

We're doing more to tackle family violence, Press release: Amy Adams, Scoop, 05.08.2015  

Family violence initiatives making an impact one year on, Press release: New Zealand Government, Scoop, 05.08.2015

Justice Minister launches review to tackle domestic violence, NZ Law Society, 05.08.2015

Support for tougher measures against family violence, Press Release: Grey Power New Zealand, 04.08.2015

Revise abuse guidelines - Adams, NZ Herald, 04.08.2015

Father of woman killed by family violence says silence not an option, NZ Doctor, 04.08.2015

Cash injection possible for tackling domestic violence, John Key says, Stuff, 03.08.2015

Anti-family violence advocates would back criminal charge for domestic abuse, Radio NZ, 03.08.2015

Family violence review applauded, Timaru Herald, 03.08.2015

Support for dedicated family violence charge, Radio NZ, 03.08.2015

New domestic violence charges mooted, Radio NZ, 02.08.2015

Government aims to tackle high domestic violence rates, Stuff, 02.08.2015

New family violence offences, tougher penalties coming, TVNZ, 02.08.2015

Domestic violence laws in for major shake-up, TVNZ, 02.08.2015

'My ex would never have touched me sober' - readers react to family violence paper

New family violence offences and tougher penalties likely, Voxy, 02.08.2015

Q+A: Justice Minister Amy Adams on domestic violence law, Press release: TVNZ, Scoop, 02.08.2015

Full clip: Amy Adams talks to Q+A about family violence, TVNZ, 02.08.2015