Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act

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New South Wales

Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence)


Act 2007 No 80
Status information
Currency of version
Historical version for 24 September 2012 to 30 January 2014 (generated 3 February 2014 at 14:39).
Legislation on the NSW legislation website is usually updated within 3 working days.

Provisions in force
All the provisions displayed in this version of the legislation have commenced. For commencement and
other details see the Historical notes.

Does not include amendments by:


Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Amendment (Information Sharing) Act 2013 No 28 (not
commenced)
Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Amendment Act 2013 No 87 (not commenced)

See also:
Bail (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2013
Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Assault and Intoxication) Bill 2014

This version of the legislation is compiled and maintained in a database of legislation by the Parliamentary Counsels Office and published
on the NSW legislation website.
New South Wales

Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence)


Act 2007 No 80

Contents
Page

Part 1 Preliminary
1 Name of Act 2
2 Commencement 2
3 Definitions 2
4 Meaning of personal violence offence 3
5 Meaning of domestic relationship 3
6 Meaning of relative 4
7 Meaning of intimidation 4
8 Meaning of stalking 4

Part 2 Objects of Act in relation to domestic and personal violence


9 Objects of Act in relation to domestic violence 6
10 Object of Act in relation to personal violence 6

Part 3 Domestic violence and other offences


11 Meaning of domestic violence offence 8
12 Recording of domestic violence offences 8
13 Stalking or intimidation with intent to cause fear of physical or mental harm 8
14 Offence of contravening apprehended violence order 9

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Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 No 80 [NSW]
Contents

Page

Part 4 Apprehended domestic violence orders


15 Application for making of apprehended domestic violence order by court 11
16 Court may make apprehended domestic violence order 11
17 Matters to be considered by court 12

Part 5 Apprehended personal violence orders


18 Application for making of apprehended personal violence order by court 13
19 Court may make apprehended personal violence order 13
20 Matters to be considered by court 13
21 Referral of matters to mediation 14

Part 6 Interim court orders


22 Interim court orders 15
23 Interim court orders made by Registrar with consent 15
24 Interim court order ceases when final court order made or served 16

Part 7 Provisional orders


25 Application by telephone, facsimile or other communication device 17
26 When application may be made 17
27 Obligation to apply for provisional order in certain circumstances 17
28 Making of provisional order 18
29 Provisional order taken to be application for court order 18
30 Recording of provisional order 18
31 Service 19
32 Duration 19
33 Variation or revocation 19
34 Purported renewal or continuance 19

Part 8 Content and effect of apprehended violence orders


35 Prohibitions and restrictions imposed by apprehended violence orders 20
36 Apprehended violence order prohibits stalking, intimidation etc 20
37 Ancillary property recovery orders may be made 21

Part 9 Additional measures for support and protection of children and


others in proceedings
38 Apprehended violence orders made by court or authorised officer can also
protect persons with whom person seeking protection has a domestic
relationship 22
39 Apprehended violence order must be made on guilty plea or guilt finding for
certain offences 22
40 Interim apprehended violence order must be made on charge for certain
offences 22
41 Measures to protect children in apprehended violence order proceedings 23
42 Consideration of contact with children 23
43 Non-inclusion of protected persons residential address in application for
apprehended domestic violence order or in apprehended domestic violence
order 24
44 Non-inclusion of health care providers residential address in application for
apprehended personal violence order or in apprehended personal violence
order 24

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Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 No 80 [NSW]
Contents

Page

45 Publication of names and identifying information about children and other


persons involved in apprehended violence order proceedings 25
46 Right to presence of supportive person when giving evidence 26

Part 10 Applications for final apprehended violence orders and interim


court orders and associated proceedings
Division 1 Preliminary
47 Definitions 27

Division 2 Application for order


48 Making of application for an order 27
49 Circumstances in which police must make application for order 28

Division 3 Commencement of application proceedings


50 Commencement of proceedings by application notice 28
51 Commencement of proceedings by police officer 28
52 Commencement of proceedings by protected person 29
53 Discretion to refuse to issue process in apprehended personal violence order
matters 29
54 Application notice to be for one matter only 30
55 Service of application notice 30
56 When proceedings commence 30

Division 4 Hearing of application proceedings


57 Time for hearing 30
58 Proceedings to be open to public 30
59 Change of venue 30
60 Right to defend action 30
61 Right of representation 30
62 Conduct of case 31
63 Evidence to be on oath 31
64 Recording of evidence 31
65 Adjournments 31
66 Irregularity 31
67 Power to dispense with rules 31
68 Power to stay proceedings 32
69 Arrest of defendant during proceedings 32
70 Witnesses and production of evidence 32
71 Warrants of arrest and warrants of commitment 32

Division 5 Variation or revocation of final apprehended violence orders or


interim court orders
72 Application for variation or revocation of final apprehended violence orders32
73 Variation or revocation of final apprehended violence orders and interim court
orders 33
74 Variation or revocation of final apprehended violence orders and interim court
orders where more than one protected person 34
75 Variation may be made on guilty plea or guilt finding for certain offences 34

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Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 No 80 [NSW]
Contents

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Division 6 Ancillary provisions


76 Explanation of final apprehended violence orders, interim court orders and
variations 34
77 Service of copy of apprehended violence order, interim court order or variation
or revocation of any such order 35
78 Orders made with consent of parties 35
79 Duration of final apprehended violence orders 36
80 Enforcement of orders for payment of money 36
81 Concurrent criminal proceedings 36
82 Arrangements regarding classification of orders 36
83 Application of Bail Act 1978 36

Division 7 Appeals
84 Review and appeal provisions concerning making etc of apprehended
violence orders 37
85 Presumption against stay of order 38

Division 8 Rules
86 Rules in application proceedings 38
87 Forms 39

Part 11 Warrants and powers of police to detain defendants


88 Warrant for arrest of defendant in final apprehended violence order matters
40
89 Detention of defendant for making and service of provisional order 40
90 Detention of defendant for service of order or variation 40

Part 12 Jurisdiction of courts


91 Courts authorised to make orders and determine applications 41
92 (Repealed) 41
93 Jurisdiction of District Court under this Act 41

Part 13 Registration of external protection orders


94 Definitions 42
95 Application for registration of external protection order 42
96 Registration of external protection order 42
97 Effect of registration of external protection order 43
98 Variation etc of registered external protection orders 43

Part 14 Miscellaneous
99 Costs 45
100 Parts 2 and 3 of Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 45
101 Regulations 45
102 Savings, transitional and other provisions 45
103 (Repealed) 45
104 Review of Act 45
Schedule 1 Savings, transitional and other provisions 46
Schedule 2 (Repealed) 48

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Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 No 80 [NSW]
Contents

Page

Notes
Table of amending instruments 49
Table of amendments 49

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New South Wales

Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence)


Act 2007 No 80

An Act to protect persons from domestic and personal violence; to repeal Part 15A of the Crimes
Act 1900; and to make consequential amendments to other Acts and instruments.

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Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 No 80 [NSW]
Part 1 Preliminary

Part 1 Preliminary
1 Name of Act
This Act is the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007.
2 Commencement
This Act commences on a day or days to be appointed by proclamation.
3 Definitions
(1) In this Act:
apprehended domestic violence order means an order under Part 4.
apprehended personal violence order means an order under Part 5.
apprehended violence order means:
(a) a final apprehended violence order, or
(b) an interim apprehended violence order.
apprehended violence order proceedings means proceedings under this Act in
relation to an apprehended violence order or an application for an apprehended
violence order.
authorised officer has the same meaning as in the Law Enforcement (Powers and
Responsibilities) Act 2002 and includes the Registrar of the Childrens Court.
child means a person under the age of 16 years.
court means:
(a) the Local Court, or
(b) the Childrens Court,
(c) (Repealed)
exercising jurisdiction under section 91.
defendant means the person against whom an apprehended violence order is made
or is sought to be made.
domestic relationshipsee section 5.
domestic violence offencesee section 11.
final apprehended violence order means an apprehended domestic violence order or
an apprehended personal violence order.
interim apprehended domestic violence order means an interim apprehended
domestic violence order made by a court or Registrar under Part 6 or an authorised
officer under Part 7.
interim apprehended personal violence order means an interim apprehended
personal violence order made by a court or Registrar under Part 6 or an authorised
officer under Part 7.
interim apprehended violence order means an interim court order or a provisional
order.
interim court order means an interim apprehended domestic violence order or an
interim apprehended personal violence order made by a court or registrar of a court
under Part 6.
intimidationsee section 7.
personal violence offencesee section 4.
property recovery order means a property recovery order made under section 37.
protected person means the person for whose protection an apprehended violence
order is sought or made.

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Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 No 80 [NSW]
Part 1 Preliminary

provisional order means an interim apprehended domestic violence order or an


interim apprehended personal violence order made by an authorised officer under
Part 7.
Registrar means a Registrar of the Local Court or the Registrar of the Childrens
Court.
relativesee section 6.
stalkingsee section 8.
(2) If an apprehended violence order is varied, a reference in this Act to the order is a
reference to the order as so varied.
(3) A reference in this Act to a person being present in court includes a reference to a
person being present in court by way of audio visual link, being facilities (including
closed-circuit television) that enable audio and visual communication between
persons at different places.
(4) A reference in this Act to a finding of guilt includes a reference to the making of an
order under section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999.
(5) Notes included in this Act do not form part of this Act.
4 Meaning of personal violence offence
In this Act, personal violence offence means:
(a) an offence under, or mentioned in, section 19A, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33,
33A, 35, 35A, 37, 38, 39, 41, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 58, 59, 61, 61B, 61C, 61D,
61E, 61I, 61J, 61JA, 61K, 61L, 61M, 61N, 61O, 65A, 66A, 66B, 66C, 66D,
66EA, 80A, 80D, 86, 87, 93G, 93GA, 195, 196, 198, 199, 200, 562I (as in
force before its substitution by the Crimes Amendment (Apprehended
Violence) Act 2006) or 562ZG of the Crimes Act 1900, or
(b) an offence under section 13 or 14 of this Act, or
(c) an offence of attempting to commit an offence referred to in paragraph (a) or
(b).
5 Meaning of domestic relationship
For the purposes of this Act, a person has a domestic relationship with another
person if the person:
(a) is or has been married to the other person, or
(b) is or has been a de facto partner of that other person, or
(c) has or has had an intimate personal relationship with the other person, whether
or not the intimate relationship involves or has involved a relationship of a
sexual nature, or
(d) is living or has lived in the same household as the other person, or
(e) is living or has lived as a long-term resident in the same residential facility as
the other person and at the same time as the other person (not being a facility
that is a correctional centre within the meaning of the Crimes (Administration
of Sentences) Act 1999 or a detention centre within the meaning of the
Children (Detention Centres) Act 1987), or
(f) has or has had a relationship involving his or her dependence on the ongoing
paid or unpaid care of the other person, or
(g) is or has been a relative of the other person, or

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Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 No 80 [NSW]
Part 1 Preliminary

(h) in the case of an Aboriginal person or a Torres Strait Islander, is or has been
part of the extended family or kin of the other person according to the
Indigenous kinship system of the persons culture.
Note. De facto partner is defined in section 21C of the Interpretation Act 1987.

6 Meaning of relative
For the purposes of this Act, a person is a relative of another person (the other
person):
(a) if the person is:
(i) a father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, step-father, step-mother,
father-in-law or mother-in-law, or
(ii) a son, daughter, grandson, grand-daughter, step-son, step-daughter,
son-in-law or daughter-in-law, or
(iii) a brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, step-brother, step-sister,
brother-in-law or sister-in-law, or
(iv) an uncle, aunt, uncle-in-law or aunt-in-law, or
(v) a nephew or niece, or
(vi) a cousin,
of the other person, or
(b) where the person has a de facto partner (the persons partner)if the other
person is:
(i) a father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, step-father or step-mother,
or
(ii) a son, daughter, grandson, grand-daughter, step-son or step-daughter, or
(iii) a brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, step-brother or step-sister, or
(iv) an uncle or aunt, or
(v) a nephew or niece, or
(vi) a cousin,
of the persons partner.
7 Meaning of intimidation
(1) For the purposes of this Act, intimidation of a person means:
(a) conduct amounting to harassment or molestation of the person, or
(b) an approach made to the person by any means (including by telephone,
telephone text messaging, e-mailing and other technologically assisted means)
that causes the person to fear for his or her safety, or
(c) any conduct that causes a reasonable apprehension of injury to a person or to
a person with whom he or she has a domestic relationship, or of violence or
damage to any person or property.
(2) For the purpose of determining whether a persons conduct amounts to intimidation,
a court may have regard to any pattern of violence (especially violence constituting
a domestic violence offence) in the persons behaviour.
8 Meaning of stalking
(1) In this Act, stalking includes the following of a person about or the watching or
frequenting of the vicinity of, or an approach to, a persons place of residence,
business or work or any place that a person frequents for the purposes of any social
or leisure activity.

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Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 No 80 [NSW]
Part 1 Preliminary

(2) For the purpose of determining whether a persons conduct amounts to stalking, a
court may have regard to any pattern of violence (especially violence constituting a
domestic violence offence) in the persons behaviour.

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Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 No 80 [NSW]
Part 2 Objects of Act in relation to domestic and personal violence

Part 2 Objects of Act in relation to domestic and personal


violence
9 Objects of Act in relation to domestic violence
(1) The objects of this Act in relation to domestic violence are:
(a) to ensure the safety and protection of all persons, including children, who
experience or witness domestic violence, and
(b) to reduce and prevent violence by a person against another person where a
domestic relationship exists between those persons, and
(c) to enact provisions that are consistent with certain principles underlying the
Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, and
(d) to enact provisions that are consistent with the United Nations Convention on
the Rights of the Child.
(2) This Act aims to achieve those objects by:
(a) empowering courts to make apprehended domestic violence orders to protect
people from domestic violence, intimidation (including harassment) and
stalking, and
(b) ensuring that access to courts is as safe, speedy, inexpensive and simple as is
consistent with justice.
(3) In enacting this Act, Parliament recognises:
(a) that domestic violence, in all its forms, is unacceptable behaviour, and
(b) that domestic violence is predominantly perpetrated by men against women
and children, and
(c) that domestic violence occurs in all sectors of the community, and
(d) that domestic violence extends beyond physical violence and may involve the
exploitation of power imbalances and patterns of abuse over many years, and
(e) that domestic violence occurs in traditional and non-traditional settings, and
(f) the particularly vulnerable position of children who are exposed to domestic
violence as victims or witnesses, and the impact that such exposure can have
on their current and future physical, psychological and emotional well-being,
and
(g) that domestic violence is best addressed through a co-ordinated legal and
social response of assistance and prevention of violence and, in certain cases,
may be the subject of appropriate intervention by the court.
(4) A court that, or person who, exercises any power conferred by or under this Act in
relation to domestic violence must be guided in the exercise of that power by the
objects referred to in this section.
10 Object of Act in relation to personal violence
(1) The object of this Act in relation to personal violence is to ensure the safety and
protection of all persons who experience personal violence outside a domestic
relationship.
(2) This Act aims to achieve that object by:
(a) empowering courts to make apprehended personal violence orders in
appropriate circumstances to protect people from violence, intimidation
(including harassment) and stalking, and

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Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 No 80 [NSW]
Part 2 Objects of Act in relation to domestic and personal violence

(b) ensuring that access to courts is as safe, speedy, inexpensive and simple as is
consistent with justice, and
(c) ensuring that other avenues of dispute resolution are encouraged where
appropriate.

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Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 No 80 [NSW]
Part 3 Domestic violence and other offences

Part 3 Domestic violence and other offences


11 Meaning of domestic violence offence
In this Act, domestic violence offence means a personal violence offence committed
by a person against another person with whom the person who commits the offence
has or has had a domestic relationship.
12 Recording of domestic violence offences
(1) The charge in respect of an offence may indicate that the offence is a domestic
violence offence.
(2) If a person pleads guilty to an offence or is found guilty of an offence and the court
is satisfied that the offence was a domestic violence offence, the court is to direct that
the offence be recorded on the persons criminal record as a domestic violence
offence.
(3) If the court makes a direction under this section to record an offence as a domestic
violence offence, the prosecution may make an application to the court requesting
that the court direct that specified offences in respect of which the person has
previously pleaded guilty or been found guilty be recorded as domestic violence
offences.
(4) Any such application is to include sufficient information in support of the request to
enable the court to make a decision as to whether such a recording is appropriate.
(5) The court may require the prosecutor to provide further information to enable it to
make a determination as to whether to direct a recording to be made under this
section.
(6) If satisfied after considering an application under subsection (3) that an offence
referred to in the application was a domestic violence offence, the court is to direct
that the offence be recorded on the criminal record of the person concerned as a
domestic violence offence.
(7) A victim of an offence is not compellable in any proceedings before the court to
determine whether the court should make a direction under this section to record an
offence as a domestic violence offence.
(8) A court that directs a recording to be made under this section or is required to take
such a recording into account may, on application or on its own motion, correct the
recording if it considers that there is an error in the recording.
(9) Regulations may be made for or with respect to the recording of offences under this
section, including the manner in which and time within which such recordings are to
be made.
Note. An indication in the charge for an offence that a person has committed a domestic
violence offence will be relevant in bail proceedings. The recording on a persons criminal
record that an offence is a domestic violence offence will be relevant to sections 7 and 8 of this
Act, where previous behaviour constituting a domestic violence offence is taken into account
for the purpose of determining whether a persons behaviour amounts to intimidation or
stalking, and to sections 27 and 49 of this Act, which require police to make applications for
apprehended domestic violence orders in situations where the person in question has already
committed a domestic violence offence. Section 21A of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure)
Act 1999 provides that a record of previous convictions is an aggravating factor to be taken
into account when determining the appropriate sentence for an offence.

13 Stalking or intimidation with intent to cause fear of physical or mental harm


(1) A person who stalks or intimidates another person with the intention of causing the
other person to fear physical or mental harm is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years or 50 penalty units, or both.

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Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 No 80 [NSW]
Part 3 Domestic violence and other offences

(2) For the purposes of this section, causing a person to fear physical or mental harm
includes causing the person to fear physical or mental harm to another person with
whom he or she has a domestic relationship.
(3) For the purposes of this section, a person intends to cause fear of physical or mental
harm if he or she knows that the conduct is likely to cause fear in the other person.
(4) For the purposes of this section, the prosecution is not required to prove that the
person alleged to have been stalked or intimidated actually feared physical or mental
harm.
(5) A person who attempts to commit an offence against subsection (1) is guilty of an
offence against that subsection and is punishable as if the offence attempted had been
committed.
14 Offence of contravening apprehended violence order
(1) A person who knowingly contravenes a prohibition or restriction specified in an
apprehended violence order made against the person is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years or 50 penalty units, or both.
(2) A person is not guilty of an offence against subsection (1) unless:
(a) in the case of an apprehended violence order made by a court, the person was
served with a copy of the order or was present in court when the order was
made, or
(b) in any other case, the person was served with a copy of the apprehended
violence order.
(3) A person is not guilty of an offence against subsection (1) if the contravention of the
prohibition or restriction concerned:
(a) was necessary in order to attend mediation under section 21, or
(b) was done in compliance with the terms of a property recovery order.
(4) Unless the court otherwise orders, a person who is convicted of an offence against
subsection (1) must be sentenced to a term of imprisonment if the act constituting the
offence was an act of violence against a person.
(5) Subsection (4) does not apply if the person convicted was under 18 years of age at
the time of the alleged offence.
(6) Where the court determines not to impose a sentence of imprisonment, it must give
its reasons for not doing so.
(7) A person is not guilty of an offence of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the
commission of an offence against subsection (1) if the person is a protected person
under the order concerned.
(8) A police officer is to make a written record of the reasons for:
(a) a decision by the police officer not to initiate criminal proceedings against a
person for an alleged contravention of subsection (1) or (9) (whether or not the
person is arrested), or
(b) a decision by the police officer not to proceed with criminal proceedings
against a person for an alleged contravention of subsection (1) or (9),
if the police officer or another police officer suspects on reasonable grounds that the
person has committed an offence against either subsection or if an alleged
contravention of either subsection by the person has been reported to the police
officer or another police officer.

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Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 No 80 [NSW]
Part 3 Domestic violence and other offences

(9) A person who attempts to commit an offence against subsection (1) is guilty of an
offence against that subsection and is punishable as if the offence attempted had been
committed.
Note. The Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 contains powers of police
officers in relation to suspected offences, including a power to arrest a person, without warrant,
if the police officer suspects on reasonable grounds that a person has committed an offence.

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Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 No 80 [NSW]
Part 4 Apprehended domestic violence orders

Part 4 Apprehended domestic violence orders


15 Application for making of apprehended domestic violence order by court
(1) An application may be made in accordance with Part 10 for an apprehended domestic
violence order for the protection of:
(a) a person against another person with whom he or she has or has had a domestic
relationship, or
(b) two or more persons against another person with whom at least one of those
persons has or has had a domestic relationship.
(2) An application is to be treated as an application for an apprehended personal violence
order if none of the persons for whose protection the order would be made has or has
had a domestic relationship with the person against whom it is sought.
16 Court may make apprehended domestic violence order
(1) A court may, on application, make an apprehended domestic violence order if it is
satisfied on the balance of probabilities that a person who has or has had a domestic
relationship with another person has reasonable grounds to fear and in fact fears:
(a) the commission by the other person of a personal violence offence against the
person, or
(b) the engagement of the other person in conduct in which the other person:
(i) intimidates the person or a person with whom the person has a domestic
relationship, or
(ii) stalks the person,
being conduct that, in the opinion of the court, is sufficient to warrant the
making of the order.
(2) Despite subsection (1), it is not necessary for the court to be satisfied that the person
for whose protection the order would be made in fact fears that such an offence will
be committed, or that such conduct will be engaged in, if:
(a) the person is a child, or
(b) the person is, in the opinion of the court, suffering from an appreciably below
average general intelligence function, or
(c) in the opinion of the court:
(i) the person has been subjected at any time to conduct by the defendant
amounting to a personal violence offence, and
(ii) there is a reasonable likelihood that the defendant may commit a
personal violence offence against the person, and
(iii) the making of the order is necessary in the circumstances to protect the
person from further violence.
(3) For the purposes of this section, conduct may amount to intimidation of a person even
though:
(a) it does not involve actual or threatened violence to the person, or
(b) it consists only of actual or threatened damage to property belonging to, in the
possession of or used by the person.
Note. Part 8 provides for the matters that may be included in orders. Part 9 contains additional
provisions relevant to the making of orders.

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Part 4 Apprehended domestic violence orders

17 Matters to be considered by court


(1) In deciding whether or not to make an apprehended domestic violence order, the
court must consider the safety and protection of the protected person and any child
directly or indirectly affected by the conduct of the defendant alleged in the
application for the order.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), in deciding whether or not to make an apprehended
domestic violence order, the court is to consider:
(a) in the case of an order that would prohibit or restrict access to the defendants
residencethe effects and consequences on the safety and protection of the
protected person and any children living or ordinarily living at the residence if
an order prohibiting or restricting access to the residence is not made, and
(b) any hardship that may be caused by making or not making the order,
particularly to the protected person and any children, and
(c) the accommodation needs of all relevant parties, in particular the protected
person and any children, and
(d) any other relevant matter.
(3) When making an apprehended domestic violence order, the court is to ensure that the
order imposes only those prohibitions and restrictions on the defendant that, in the
opinion of the court, are necessary for the safety and protection of the protected
person, and any child directly or indirectly affected by the conduct of the defendant
alleged in the application for the order, and the protected persons property.
(4) If an application is made for an apprehended domestic violence order that prohibits
or restricts access by the defendant to any premises or place and the court hearing
proceedings in respect of the application decides to make an order without the
prohibition or restriction sought, the court is to give reasons for that decision.

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18 Application for making of apprehended personal violence order by court
(1) An application may be made in accordance with Part 10 for an apprehended personal
violence order for the protection of one or more persons against another person.
(2) An application is to be treated as an application for an apprehended domestic
violence order if one or more of the persons for whose protection the order would be
made has or has had a domestic relationship with the person against whom it is
sought.
19 Court may make apprehended personal violence order
(1) A court may, on application, make an apprehended personal violence order if it is
satisfied on the balance of probabilities that a person has reasonable grounds to fear
and in fact fears:
(a) the commission by the other person of a personal violence offence against the
person, or
(b) the engagement of the other person in conduct in which the other person:
(i) intimidates the person, or
(ii) stalks the person,
being conduct that, in the opinion of the court, is sufficient to warrant the
making of the order.
(2) Despite subsection (1), it is not necessary for the court to be satisfied that the person
for whose protection the order would be made in fact fears that such an offence will
be committed, or that such conduct will be engaged in, if:
(a) the person is a child, or
(b) the person is, in the opinion of the court, suffering from an appreciably below
average general intelligence function.
(3) For the purposes of this section, conduct may amount to intimidation of a person even
though:
(a) it does not involve actual or threatened violence to the person, or
(b) it consists only of actual or threatened damage to property belonging to, in the
possession of or used by the person.
Note. Part 8 provides for the matters that may be included in orders. Part 9 contains additional
provisions relevant to the making of orders.

20 Matters to be considered by court


(1) In deciding whether or not to make an apprehended personal violence order, the court
must consider the safety and protection of the person seeking the order and any child
directly or indirectly affected by the conduct of the defendant alleged in the
application for the order.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), in deciding whether or not to make an apprehended
personal violence order, the court is to consider:
(a) in the case of an order that would prohibit or restrict access to the defendants
residencethe effects and consequences on the safety and protection of the
protected person and any children living or ordinarily living at the residence if
an order prohibiting or restricting access to the residence is not made, and
(b) any hardship that may be caused by making or not making the order,
particularly to the protected person and any children, and

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(c) the accommodation needs of all relevant parties, in particular the protected
person and any children, and
(d) any other relevant matter.
(3) When making an apprehended personal violence order, the court is to ensure that the
order imposes only those prohibitions and restrictions on the defendant that, in the
opinion of the court, are necessary for the safety and protection of the protected
person, and any child directly or indirectly affected by the conduct of the defendant
alleged in the application for the order, and the protected persons property.
(4) If an application is made for an apprehended personal violence order that prohibits
or restricts access by the defendant to any premises or place and the court hearing
proceedings in respect of the application decides to make an order without the
prohibition or restriction sought, the court is to give reasons for that decision.
21 Referral of matters to mediation
(1) At any time when considering whether to make an apprehended personal violence
order or after making such an order, a court may refer the protected person and the
defendant for mediation under the Community Justice Centres Act 1983.
(2) A matter is not to be referred to mediation under this section if the court is of the
opinion that:
(a) there has been a history of physical violence to the protected person by the
defendant, or
(b) the protected person has been subjected to conduct by the defendant
amounting to a personal violence offence, or
(c) the protected person has been subjected to conduct by the defendant
amounting to an offence under section 13, or
(d) the defendant has engaged in conduct amounting to harassment relating to the
protected persons race, religion, homosexuality, transgender status,
HIV/AIDS infection or disability, or
(e) there has been a previous attempt at mediation in relation to the same matter
and the attempt was not successful.
(3) Nothing in this section affects section 24 of the Community Justice Centres Act 1983.
Note. Section 24 of the Community Justice Centres Act 1983 enables the Director of
Community Justice Centres to decline to consent to the acceptance of a dispute for mediation
and enables the Director or a mediator to terminate a mediation session at any time.
(4) The Director of Community Justice Centres is to provide a written report on the
outcome of the mediation or attempted mediation to the court that referred the matter
for mediation.
(5) On receiving a report under subsection (4), the court is to take such action in
accordance with this Act as it considers appropriate in relation to the matter
concerned and in doing so may take into account the contents of the report.
(6) If a matter is referred to mediation under this section without an order having been
made, any proceedings in relation to the application are taken to have been stayed
until a report is provided under subsection (4).
(7) If the Director of Community Justice Centres provides a report under subsection (4)
or a mediator conducts a mediation of a matter referred under this section, the
Director or the mediator is taken, for the purposes of the provisions of the Community
Justice Centres Act 1983, to be exercising those functions for the purpose of
executing that Act.

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Part 6 Interim court orders


22 Interim court orders
(1) A court may, on application made in accordance with Part 10, make an interim
apprehended domestic violence order or an interim apprehended personal violence
order if it appears to the court that it is necessary or appropriate to do so in the
circumstances.
(2) An interim apprehended domestic violence order or an interim apprehended personal
violence order made on application under this Part is referred to in this Act as an
interim court order.
(3) An interim court order may be made by a court whether or not:
(a) the defendant is present at the proceedings, or
(b) the defendant has been given notice of the proceedings.
(4) A court may, in deciding whether to make an interim court order, admit affidavit
evidence or a written statement by a police officer that is tendered on behalf of the
person for whose protection the order would be made if:
(a) the person is unable, for any good reason, to be present at the proceedings, and
(b) the court is satisfied that the matter requires urgent consideration by the court.
(5) If an interim court order is made by a court:
(a) the court is to require the defendant to appear at a further hearing of the matter
by the court as soon as practicable after the interim court order is made, and
(b) the court may, at the further hearing or an adjourned further hearing, make a
final apprehended violence order in the same terms as the interim court order
or with variations or may revoke the interim court order (whether or not the
defendant appears at any such further hearing).
(6) An interim court order has, while it remains in force, the same effect as a final
apprehended violence order.
23 Interim court orders made by Registrar with consent
(1) A Registrar may, on application, make an interim apprehended domestic violence
order or an interim apprehended personal violence order if satisfied that the protected
person and the defendant consent to the making of the order.
(2) Section 78 (Orders made with consent of parties) applies in relation to the making of
an order by a Registrar under this section in the same way as it applies to the making
of an interim court order by a court.
(3) If an interim court order is made by a Registrar:
(a) the Registrar is to require the defendant to appear at a further hearing of the
matter before a court as soon as practicable after the interim court order is
made, and
(b) the court may, at the further hearing or an adjourned hearing, make a final
apprehended violence order in the same terms as the interim court order or
with variations or may revoke the interim court order.
(4) An interim court order made by a Registrar of a court under this section is taken to
have been made by the court and has effect accordingly.
(5) Section 76 applies to a Registrar who makes an interim court order under this section.

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24 Interim court order ceases when final court order made or served
(1) An interim court order remains in force until:
(a) it is revoked, or
(b) it ceases to have effect under subsection (2), or
(c) the application for a final apprehended violence order is withdrawn or
dismissed,
whichever first occurs.
(2) If a final apprehended violence order is made in respect of an interim court order
(whether with or without variation), the interim court order ceases to have effect:
(a) in a case where the defendant is present at courtwhen the final apprehended
violence order is made, or
(b) in any other casewhen the defendant is served in accordance with this Act
with a copy of the final apprehended violence order.

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Part 7 Provisional orders


25 Application by telephone, facsimile or other communication device
(1) A police officer may apply by telephone, facsimile or other communication device
to an authorised officer for an interim apprehended domestic violence order or an
interim apprehended personal violence order.
(2) An interim apprehended domestic violence order or an interim apprehended personal
violence order made on an application under this section is referred to in this Act as
a provisional order.
(3) An application for a provisional order:
(a) may be made at the request of the protected person or on the police officers
own initiative, and
(b) may be transmitted to the authorised officer by another person on behalf of the
applicant if it is not practicable for the application to be made by the person by
telephone, facsimile or other communication device directly to the authorised
officer.
26 When application may be made
(1) An application may be made by telephone, facsimile or other communication device
if:
(a) an incident occurs involving the person against whom the provisional order is
sought to be made and the person who would be protected by the provisional
order, and
(b) a police officer has good reason to believe a provisional order needs to be
made immediately to ensure the safety and protection of the person who would
be protected by the provisional order or to prevent substantial damage to any
property of that person.
(2) An application may be made at any time and whether or not the court is sitting.
27 Obligation to apply for provisional order in certain circumstances
(1) An application must be made for a provisional order if:
(a) a police officer investigating the incident concerned suspects or believes that:
(i) a domestic violence offence or an offence against section 13 has
recently been or is being committed, or is imminent, or is likely to be
committed, against the person for whose protection an order would be
made, or
(ii) an offence under section 227 (Child and young person abuse) of the
Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (but only
in relation to a child) has recently been or is being committed, or is
imminent, or is likely to be committed, against the person for whose
protection an order would be made, or
(iii) proceedings have been commenced against a person for an offence
referred to in subparagraph (i) or (ii) committed against the person for
whose protection an order would be made, and
(b) the police officer has good reason to believe an order needs to be made
immediately to ensure the safety and protection of the person who would be
protected by the order or to prevent substantial damage to any property of that
person.
(2) The application may be made by any police officer.

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(3) An application need not be made in the circumstances referred to in subsection (1) if
an apprehended violence order is already in force against the defendant for the
protection of the person concerned.
(4) An application need not be made in the circumstances referred to in subsection (1) if
the person for whose protection an order would be made is at least 16 years of age at
the time of the incident and a police officer investigating the incident believes:
(a) that the person intends to make an application for an apprehended violence
order, or
(b) that there is good reason not to make the application.
(5) However, if the police officer investigating the incident believes that there is good
reason not to make the application, the police officer must make a written record of
the reason.
(6) For the purposes of subsection (4), the reluctance of the person to make an
application does not, on its own, constitute a good reason for a police officer not to
make an application if the police officer reasonably believes that:
(a) the person has been the victim of violence or there is a significant threat of
violence to the person, or
(b) the person has an intellectual disability and has no guardian.
28 Making of provisional order
(1) An authorised officer to whom an application is made for a provisional order may, if
satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for doing so, make the provisional order.
(2) Section 21 (Referral of matters to mediation) applies to an authorised officer when
considering whether to make a provisional order that is an interim personal
apprehended violence order or after making such an order in the same way as it
applies to a court.
(3) Section 81 applies to the making of a provisional order in the same way as that
section applies to other orders.
29 Provisional order taken to be application for court order
(1) A provisional order is taken, for the purposes of this Act, to be an application for an
order under Part 10.
(2) The provisional order is to contain a direction for the appearance of the defendant at
a hearing of the application by an appropriate court on a date specified in the order
by the authorised officer who makes it (being a date that is not more than 28 days
after the making of the provisional order).
30 Recording of provisional order
(1) The authorised officer who makes a provisional order is to inform the applicant of
the terms of the order and the date and time when the order was made.
(2) The applicant is to complete a form of order in the terms so indicated and write on it
the name of the authorised officer, the date and time when the order was made and
the date of the hearing of the application.
(3) When the form of order is completed, it is taken to be a provisional order.
(4) An authorised officer may, instead of proceeding under subsection (1), furnish the
provisional order to the applicant.
(5) An applicant who is furnished with a provisional order under subsection (4) is to
include in the order the date of the hearing of the application.

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31 Service
(1) A provisional order is to be served personally on the defendant by a police officer as
soon as practicable after it is made.
(2) A provisional order is to be served personally on the protected person by a police
officer as soon as practicable after it is made unless it is impractical to do so.
32 Duration
(1) A provisional order remains in force until midnight on the twenty-eighth day after
the order is made, unless it is sooner revoked or ceases to have effect under
subsection (2) or the application for a final apprehended violence order is withdrawn
or dismissed.
(2) If a court makes an apprehended violence order against a defendant for the protection
of a person protected by a provisional order, the provisional order ceases to have
effect:
(a) in a case where the defendant is present at courtwhen the court order is
made, or
(b) in any other casewhen the defendant is served in accordance with this Act
with a copy of the court order.
33 Variation or revocation
(1) A provisional order may be varied or revoked by:
(a) the authorised officer who made it or any other authorised officer, or
(b) any court dealing with an application for an apprehended violence order
against the same defendant.
(2) A provisional order may be varied:
(a) by amending or deleting any prohibitions or restrictions specified in the order,
or
(b) by specifying additional prohibitions or restrictions in the order.
(3) An application for a variation or the revocation of a provisional order may be made
only by a police officer.
(4) If there is more than one protected person under a provisional order, the order may
be varied or revoked in its application to all of the protected persons or in relation to
any one or more of the protected persons.
(5) Notice of the variation or revocation is to be served on the defendant, each protected
person affected by the variation or revocation and the Commissioner of Police.
(6) The duration of a provisional order may not be varied under this section.
34 Purported renewal or continuance
(1) A provisional order may not be renewed and a further provisional order may not be
made in respect of the same incident.
(2) If a court purports to renew or continue a provisional order:
(a) the order is taken to be an interim court order made by the court at that time,
and
(b) further service of the order is not required.

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Part 8 Content and effect of apprehended violence orders


35 Prohibitions and restrictions imposed by apprehended violence orders
(1) When making an apprehended violence order, a court may impose such prohibitions
or restrictions on the behaviour of the defendant as appear necessary or desirable to
the court and, in particular, to ensure the safety and protection of the person in need
of protection and any children from domestic or personal violence.
(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), an apprehended violence order
made by a court may impose any or all of the following prohibitions or restrictions:
(a) prohibiting or restricting approaches by the defendant to the protected person,
(b) prohibiting or restricting access by the defendant to any or all of the following:
(i) to any premises occupied by the protected person from time to time or
to any specified premises occupied by the protected person,
(ii) to any place where the protected person works from time to time or to
any specified place of work of the protected person,
(iii) to any specified premises or place frequented by the protected person,
whether or not the defendant has a legal or equitable interest in the premises
or place,
(c) prohibiting or restricting the defendant from approaching the protected person,
or any such premises or place, within 12 hours of consuming intoxicating
liquor or illicit drugs,
(d) prohibiting or restricting the possession of all or any specified firearms or
prohibited weapons (within the meaning of the Weapons Prohibition Act
1998) by the defendant,
(e) prohibiting the defendant from destroying or deliberately damaging or
interfering with the protected persons property,
(f) prohibiting or restricting specified behaviour by the defendant that might
affect the protected person.
(3) A provisional order made by an authorised officer may impose any or all of the
prohibitions or restrictions specified in subsection (2) (a)(e) if the authorised officer
is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for the order doing so and the defendant
is not a child.
(4) (Repealed)
(5) A reference in this section to a court includes a reference to a Registrar.
Note. Section 23 of the Firearms Act 1996 provides for the automatic suspension of a licence
under that Act on the making of an interim apprehended violence order against the licence
holder and section 24 of that Act provides for the automatic revocation of a licence on the
making of a final apprehended violence order against the licence holder. Section 17 of the
Weapons Prohibition Act 1998 provides for the automatic suspension of a permit under that
Act on the making of an interim apprehended violence order against the permit holder and
section 18 of that Act provides for the automatic revocation of a permit on the making of a final
apprehended violence order against the permit holder. On the suspension or revocation of
such licences or permits, the relevant firearms or weapons must be surrendered to the police
and may be seized by the police.
Note. Section 79 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 terminates the tenancy of a tenant or
co-tenant under a residential tenancy agreement if a final apprehended violence order is made
that prohibits the tenant or co-tenant from having access to the residential premises under the
agreement.

36 Apprehended violence order prohibits stalking, intimidation etc


Every apprehended violence order is taken to specify that the defendant is prohibited
from doing any of the following:

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(a) assaulting, molesting, harassing, threatening or otherwise interfering with the


protected person or a person with whom the protected person has a domestic
relationship,
(b) engaging in any other conduct that intimidates the protected person or a person
with whom the protected person has a domestic relationship,
(c) stalking the protected person or a person with whom the protected person has
a domestic relationship.
37 Ancillary property recovery orders may be made
(1) A court or an authorised officer may, when making an apprehended domestic
violence order or an interim apprehended domestic violence order, make an ancillary
property recovery order if:
(a) the protected person has left personal property at premises which the
defendant occupies, or
(b) the defendant has left personal property at premises which the protected
person occupies.
(1A) A property recovery order may be made under subsection (1):
(a) on the motion of the court or authorised officer making the relevant
apprehended domestic violence order or interim apprehended domestic
violence order, or
(b) on the application of a police officer, the protected person or the defendant.
(2) A property recovery order may do any or all of the following:
(a) direct the person who occupies the premises concerned to allow access to the
premises to the person who has left the personal property at the premises (and
any police officer or person who is authorised by the order to accompany the
person) to enable the removal of the property,
(b) provide that the access to the premises concerned is to be at a time or times
arranged between the occupier of the premises and a police officer (whether or
not the order requires the person recovering the property to be accompanied
by a police officer),
(c) require the person who has left the personal property at the premises to be
accompanied by a police officer when removing the property from the
premises,
(d) provide that the person who has left the personal property at the premises may
be accompanied by any other specified person,
(e) specify the type or types of property to which the order relates.
(3) A property recovery order does not authorise entry to any premises by means of
force.
(4) A property recovery order does not confer any right on a person to take property that
the person does not own or have a legal right to possess even if the type of property
is specified in the order.
(5) A property recovery order in respect of personal property left by the defendant on
premises may not be made in the absence of the defendant.
(6) A person must not, without reasonable excuse, contravene a property recovery order
or obstruct a person who is attempting to comply with a property recovery order.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(7) The onus of proof of reasonable excuse in proceedings for an offence against
subsection (6) lies on the person accused of the offence.

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Part 9 Additional measures for support and protection of


children and others in proceedings
38 Apprehended violence orders made by court or authorised officer can also protect
persons with whom person seeking protection has a domestic relationship
(1) The power of a court or an authorised officer under this Act to make an apprehended
violence order for the protection of a person extends to authorise the making of such
an order for the protection of a person with whom the person for whose protection
the order was sought has a domestic relationship.
(2) If the court makes an apprehended domestic violence order, or the court or authorised
officer makes an interim apprehended domestic violence order, for the protection of
a person of or above 18 years of age, the court or authorised officer must include as
a protected person under the order any child with whom the person of or above 18
years of age has a domestic relationship.
(3) A court or authorised officer is not required to comply with subsection (2) if satisfied
that there are good reasons for not doing so. However, in that case the court or
authorised officer is to give the reasons for not doing so.
(4) For the avoidance of doubt, subsections (2) and (3) are subject to sections 41 and 42.
(5) An apprehended violence order may be made by a court for the protection of a child
in accordance with this section even though an application for the order was not made
by a police officer.
39 Apprehended violence order must be made on guilty plea or guilt finding for certain
offences
(1) If a person pleads guilty to, or is found guilty of, an offence against section 13 or a
domestic violence offence (other than murder or manslaughter), the court hearing the
proceedings must make an apprehended violence order for the protection of the
person against whom the offence was committed whether or not an application for
such an order had been made.
(2) However, the court need not make an apprehended violence order if it is satisfied that
it is not required (for example, because an apprehended violence order has already
been made against the person).
(3) A reference in this section to a court extends to the District Court when exercising
jurisdiction apart from under section 91.
40 Interim apprehended violence order must be made on charge for certain offences
(1) When a person is charged with an offence that appears to the court to be a serious
offence, the court must make an interim court order against the defendant for the
protection of the person against whom the offence appears to have been committed
whether or not an application for an order has been made.
(2) If an interim court order is made by the court, the court is to summon the defendant
to appear at a further hearing of the matter on the determination of the charge against
the person (instead of as soon as practicable after the order is made, as required by
section 22 (5) (a)).
(3) However, the court need not make an interim court order if it is satisfied that it is not
required (for example, because an apprehended violence order has already been
made against the person).
(4) A reference in this section to a court extends to the District Court when exercising
jurisdiction apart from under section 91.

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(5) In this section, a serious offence means:


(a) attempted murder, or
(b) a domestic violence offence (other than murder or manslaughter), or
(c) an offence under, or mentioned in, section 33, 35, 61I, 61J, 61JA, 61K, 61L,
61M, 63, 65, 66A, 66B, 66C, 66D, 66EA or 66F of the Crimes Act 1900, or
(d) an offence of attempting to commit an offence referred to in paragraph (b) or
(c), or
(e) an offence under section 13, or
(f) an offence under the law of the Commonwealth, another State or a Territory
or of another country that is similar to an offence referred to in paragraph (a),
(b), (c), (d) or (e).
41 Measures to protect children in apprehended violence order proceedings
(1) This section applies to the following proceedings or part of proceedings:
(a) proceedings in which an apprehended violence order is sought or proposed to
be made for the protection of a child,
(b) proceedings in relation to an application for the variation or revocation of an
apprehended violence order if the protected person or one of the protected
persons is a child,
(c) any part of proceedings in which an apprehended violence order is sought or
proposed to be made in which a child appears as a witness,
(d) any part of proceedings in relation to an application for the variation or
revocation of an apprehended violence order in which a child appears as a
witness.
(2) Proceedings or any part of proceedings to which this section applies are to be heard
in the absence of the public unless the court hearing the proceedings otherwise
directs.
(3) Even if proceedings or a part of proceedings to which this section applies are open to
the public, the court hearing the proceedings may direct any person (other than a
person who is directly interested in the proceedings) to leave the place where the
proceedings are being heard during the examination of any witness.
(4) In any proceedings referred to in subsection (1) (a), (b), (c) or (d), a child should not
be required to give evidence in any manner about a matter unless the court is of the
opinion that it is in the interests of justice for the child to do so.
(5) If a child is required to give evidence under this section, the evidence should be
required to be given only in accordance with Divisions 3 and 4 of Part 6 of Chapter
6 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986.
(6) For the purposes of subsection (5), Division 3 of Part 6 of Chapter 6 of the Criminal
Procedure Act 1986 applies to proceedings in relation to an application for an
apprehended violence order, or a variation or revocation of such an order, in the same
way as it applies to criminal proceedings.
42 Consideration of contact with children
(1) A person who applies for, or for a variation of, a final apprehended violence order or
interim court order must inform the court of:
(a) any relevant parenting order of which the person is aware, or
(b) any pending application for a relevant parenting order of which the person is
aware.

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The court is required to inform the applicant of the obligation of the applicant under
this subsection.
(2) In deciding whether or not to make or vary a final apprehended violence order or
interim court order, the court is to consider the safety and protection of the protected
person and any child directly or indirectly affected by domestic or personal violence.
(3) Without limiting subsection (2), in deciding whether or not to make or vary a final
apprehended violence order or interim court order, the court is to:
(a) consider whether contact between the protected person, or between the
defendant, and any child of either of those persons is relevant to the making or
variation of the order, and
(b) have regard to any relevant parenting order of which the court has been
informed.
(4) A final apprehended violence order or interim court order, or a variation of such an
order, is not invalid merely because of a contravention of this section.
(5) In this section, relevant parenting order means a parenting order (within the
meaning of Division 5 of Part VII of the Family Law Act 1975 of the
Commonwealth) that relates to contact between the protected person, or between the
defendant, and any child of either of those persons.
43 Non-inclusion of protected persons residential address in application for
apprehended domestic violence order or in apprehended domestic violence order
(1) The address at which the protected person resides must not be stated in an application
for an apprehended domestic violence order or interim apprehended domestic
violence order unless:
(a) where the protected person is of or above the age of 16 yearsthe protected
person consents to the address being included in the application, or
(b) where the application is made by a police officerthe police officer is
satisfied that the defendant knows the address.
(2) The address at which the protected person resides, or intends to reside, must not be
stated in an apprehended domestic violence order or interim apprehended domestic
violence order unless the court or authorised officer is satisfied that:
(a) the defendant knows the address, or
(b) it is necessary to state the address in order to achieve compliance with the
order and the personal safety of the protected person would not be seriously
threatened, or damage would not be likely to be caused to any property of the
protected person, by stating the address, or
(c) where the protected person is of or above the age of 16 yearsthe protected
person consents to the address being stated in the order.
(3) A reference in this section to an apprehended domestic violence order or interim
apprehended domestic violence order includes a reference to any other order relating
to such an order.
(4) In this section, court includes a Registrar.
44 Non-inclusion of health care providers residential address in application for
apprehended personal violence order or in apprehended personal violence order
(1) The address at which a protected health care provider resides must not be stated in
any application for an apprehended personal violence order or interim apprehended
personal violence order unless:

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(a) the protected health care provider consents to the address being included in the
application, or
(b) if the application is made by a police officerthe police officer is satisfied that
the defendant knows the address.
(2) The address at which a protected health care provider resides, or intends to reside,
must not be stated in an apprehended personal violence order or interim apprehended
personal violence order unless the court or authorised officer is satisfied that:
(a) the defendant knows the address, or
(b) it is necessary to state the address in order to achieve compliance with the
order and the personal safety of the protected health care provider would not
be seriously threatened, or damage would not be likely to be caused to any
property of the protected health care provider, by stating the address, or
(c) the protected health care provider consents to the address being stated in the
order.
(3) If the address at which a protected health care provider resides or intends to reside
must not be stated in an application or order because of this section, the address at
which the protected health care provider ordinarily provides health care services is to
be stated instead in the application or order.
(4) A reference in this section to an apprehended personal violence order or interim
apprehended personal violence order includes a reference to any other order relating
to such an order.
(5) In this section:
court includes a Registrar.
protected health care provider means a person who is employed or engaged to
provide any care, treatment, advice or service in respect of the physical or mental
health of any protected person.
45 Publication of names and identifying information about children and other persons
involved in apprehended violence order proceedings
(1) The name of a person, being a child:
(a) for whose protection or against whom an apprehended violence order is sought
in any apprehended violence order proceedings, or
(b) who appears, or is reasonably likely to appear, as a witness before a court in
any apprehended violence order proceedings, or
(c) who is, or is reasonably likely to be, mentioned or otherwise involved in any
apprehended violence order proceedings,
must not be published or broadcast before the proceedings are commenced or after
the proceedings have been commenced and before they are disposed of.
(2) A court may direct that the name of a person (other than a child to whom subsection
(1) applies):
(a) for whose protection or against whom an apprehended violence order is sought
in any apprehended violence order proceedings, or
(b) who appears, or is reasonably likely to appear, as a witness before a court in
any apprehended violence order proceedings, or
(c) who is, or is reasonably likely to be, mentioned or otherwise involved in any
apprehended violence order proceedings,
must not be published or broadcast before the proceedings are commenced or after
the proceedings have been commenced and before they are disposed of.

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(3) A person who publishes or broadcasts the name of a person in contravention of


subsection (1) or in contravention of a direction under subsection (2) is guilty of an
offence.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for a period not exceeding 2 years, or 200 penalty
units, or both (in the case of an individual) or 2,000 penalty units (in the case of a
corporation).
(4) This section does not prohibit:
(a) the publication or broadcasting of an official report of the proceedings of a
court that includes the name of any person the publication or broadcasting of
which would otherwise be prohibited by this section, or
(b) the publication or broadcasting of the name of a person with the consent of the
person or of the court.
(5) For the purposes of this section, a reference to the name of a person includes a
reference to any information, picture or other material:
(a) that identifies the person, or
(b) that is likely to lead to the identification of the person.
(6) The offence created by this section is an offence of strict liability.
(7) A court may vary or revoke a direction given by a court under this section. However,
only the District Court may vary or revoke a direction given by the District Court.
(8) In this section, court includes a Registrar.
46 Right to presence of supportive person when giving evidence
(1) In this section, party to apprehended violence order proceedings means the person
for whose protection the relevant order is sought or the defendant.
(2) A party to apprehended violence order proceedings is entitled to choose a person
whom the party would like to have present near him or her when giving evidence.
(3) Without limiting a partys right to choose such a person, that person:
(a) may be a parent, guardian, relative, friend or support person of the party, and
(b) may be with the party as an interpreter, for the purpose of assisting the party
with any difficulty in giving evidence associated with a disability, or for the
purpose of providing the party with other support.
(4) To the extent that the court considers it reasonable to do so, the court must make
whatever direction is appropriate to give effect to a partys decision to have such a
person present near the party, and within the partys sight, when the party is giving
evidence.
(5) The court may permit more than one support person to be present with the party if
the court thinks that it is in the interests of justice to do so.
Note. Section 306ZK of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 contains similar provisions to section
46 of this Act in relation to the giving of evidence in apprehended violence order proceedings
by vulnerable persons, that is children and intellectually impaired persons.
Section 294B of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 enables a protected person in apprehended
violence order proceedings who is the alleged victim of a prescribed sexual offence (within the
meaning of that Act) by the defendant to give evidence from a place other than the courtroom
by means of closed-circuit television facilities or other communication facilities or to give
evidence in the courtroom if certain measures have been taken to restrict contact with the
accused person.

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Part 10 Applications for final apprehended violence orders and


interim court orders and associated proceedings
Division 1 Preliminary
47 Definitions
In this Part:
application for an order means an application to a court for the making of a final
apprehended violence order or an interim court order.
application proceedings means proceedings in relation to an application for an order.
authorised officer has the same meaning as in the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 and
includes the Registrar of the Childrens Court.
court means the Local Court or the Childrens Court.
Magistrate includes a Childrens Magistrate.
rules means rules of court made under the Local Court Act 2007 or the Childrens
Court Act 1987.

Division 2 Application for order


48 Making of application for an order
(1) An application for an order is to be made in accordance with this Part, despite any
provision of any other Act or law (whether or not enacted or made before or after the
commencement of this section).
(2) An application for an order may be made only by:
(a) a person for whose protection the order would be made, or
(a1) the guardian of the person for whose protection the order would be made, in
the case of a person in respect of whom a guardianship order within the
meaning of the Guardianship Act 1987 is in force, or
(b) a police officer.
(3) Despite subsection (2), only a police officer may make an application for an order if
the person for whose protection the order would be made is a child at the time of the
application.
(4) An application for an order:
(a) may be made by more than one person, and
(b) if made by a police officer, may be made on behalf of more than one person,
and
(c) if made by a person for whose protection the order would be made (the
applicant), may also be made by the applicant on behalf of any other person
with whom the applicant has a domestic relationship.
(5) A court may deal with an application even though the court has only a facsimile
transmission or other copy of the application.
(6) An applicant for an order who is 16 years of age or over, but under 18 years of age,
has full capacity to make the application and to apply for a variation or revocation of
the order.
(7) A reference in sections 52, 55 (2), 73 (4), 77 (7), 78 (1) and 84 (6) to a protected
person includes a reference to the guardian of the person in the case of an application

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for an order made by the guardian of a person on the persons behalf (as referred to
in subsection (2) (a1)).
49 Circumstances in which police must make application for order
(1) An application for an order must be made if a police officer investigating the matter
concerned suspects or believes that:
(a) a domestic violence offence or an offence against section 13 has recently been
or is being committed, or is imminent, or is likely to be committed, against the
person for whose protection an order would be made, or
(b) an offence under section 227 (Child and young person abuse) of the Children
and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (but only in relation to a
child) has recently been or is being committed, or is imminent, or is likely to
be committed, against the person for whose protection an order would be
made, or
(c) proceedings have been commenced against a person for an offence referred to
in paragraph (a) or (b) against the person for whose protection an order would
be made.
(2) The application may be made by any police officer.
(3) An application need not be made in the circumstances referred to in subsection (1) if
an apprehended violence order is already in force for the protection of the person
concerned or if an application has been made for a provisional order for the
protection of the person.
(4) An application need not be made in the circumstances referred to in subsection (1) if
the person for whose protection an apprehended violence order would be made is at
least 16 years of age at the time and the police officer investigating the matter
believes:
(a) that the person intends to make the application, or
(b) that there is good reason not to make the application.
(5) However, if the police officer investigating the matter believes that there is good
reason not to make the application, the police officer must make a written record of
the reason.
(6) For the purposes of subsection (4), the reluctance of the person to make an
application does not, on its own, constitute a good reason for a police officer not to
make an application if the police officer reasonably believes that:
(a) the person has been the victim of violence or there is a significant threat of
violence to the person, or
(b) the person has an intellectual disability and has no guardian.

Division 3 Commencement of application proceedings


50 Commencement of proceedings by application notice
Application proceedings are to be commenced in a court by the issuing and filing of
an application notice in accordance with this Division.
51 Commencement of proceedings by police officer
If an application for an order is made by a police officer, the police officer may
commence the proceedings by issuing an application notice and filing the notice in
accordance with this Division.

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52 Commencement of proceedings by protected person


If an application for an order is made by a protected person, the person may
commence the proceedings by issuing an application notice, signed by a registrar,
and filing the notice in accordance with this Division.
53 Discretion to refuse to issue process in apprehended personal violence order
matters
(1) An authorised officer or a Registrar may, in accordance with this section, refuse to
issue process where an application for an apprehended personal violence order is
made unless the application was made by a police officer.
(2) An authorised officer refuses to issue process by deciding not to issue a warrant
referred to in section 88.
(3) A Registrar refuses to issue process by deciding not to sign and file an application
notice.
(4) An authorised officer or a Registrar may refuse to issue process if satisfied that the
application:
(a) is frivolous, vexatious, without substance or has no reasonable prospect of
success, or
(b) could be dealt with more appropriately by mediation or other alternative
dispute resolution.
(5) Unless satisfied that there are compelling reasons for doing so, an authorised officer
or a Registrar is not to refuse to issue process if the application discloses allegations
of any of the following:
(a) a personal violence offence,
(b) an offence under section 13,
(c) harassment relating to the protected persons race, religion, homosexuality,
transgender status, HIV/AIDS infection or disability.
(6) In determining whether or not to issue process, the authorised officer or Registrar
must take the following matters into account:
(a) the nature of the allegations,
(b) whether the matter is amenable to mediation or other alternative dispute
resolution,
(c) whether the parties have previously attempted to resolve the matter by
mediation or other means,
(d) the availability and accessibility of mediation or other alternative dispute
resolution services,
(e) the willingness and capacity of each party to resolve the matter otherwise than
through an application for an apprehended personal violence order,
(f) the relative bargaining powers of the parties,
(g) whether the application is in the nature of a cross application,
(h) any other matters that the authorised officer or Registrar considers relevant.
(7) If the authorised officer or Registrar refuses to issue process under this section, the
authorised officer or Registrar must record the reasons for doing so in writing.
(8) If a Registrar refuses to accept an application notice for filing, the question of
whether the application notice is to be accepted for filing is to be determined by the
court on the application of the applicant.

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54 Application notice to be for one matter only


An application notice may not relate to more than one matter.
55 Service of application notice
(1) An application notice issued by a police officer must be served by a police officer in
accordance with the rules.
(2) An application notice issued by a protected person must be served by a person
authorised by the rules in accordance with the rules.
(3) A copy of an application notice must be filed in the relevant court in accordance with
the rules.
56 When proceedings commence
Application proceedings are taken to have commenced on the date on which an
application notice is filed.

Division 4 Hearing of application proceedings


57 Time for hearing
(1) On the first return date for an application notice in any proceedings, or at such later
time as the court determines, the court must set the date, time and place for hearing
and determining the matter.
(2) The court must notify the defendant of the date, time and place, if the defendant is
not present.
(3) However, if the defendant is not present at the first return date, the court may proceed
to hear and determine the matter on that day at its discretion.
Note. The powers of the court to adjourn proceedings are set out in section 65.

58 Proceedings to be open to public


(1) Application proceedings before the court are to be heard in open court.
(2) This section is subject to Part 9 and the provisions of any other Act or law.
59 Change of venue
The court may make an order changing the venue of the proceedings if it thinks it
appropriate in the circumstances.
60 Right to defend action
A defendant in application proceedings may defend the action and any proceedings
ancillary to the action.
61 Right of representation
(1) An applicant or defendant may appear personally or by an Australian legal
practitioner or other representative empowered by an Act or other law to appear for
the applicant or defendant.
(2) An applicant who is a police officer may appear personally or by a person permitted
by subsection (1) or by a police prosecutor.

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62 Conduct of case
(1) The applicants case may be conducted by the applicant or by the applicants
Australian legal practitioner or any other representative permitted to appear for the
applicant (whether under this or any other Act).
(2) The defendants case may be conducted by the defendant or by the defendants
Australian legal practitioner or any other representative permitted to appear for the
defendant (whether under this or any other Act).
63 Evidence to be on oath
The usual oath must be administered to a witness before the witness is examined.
Note. For the form of oaths and declarations see the Oaths Act 1900.

64 Recording of evidence
(1) The evidence of each witness in application proceedings must be recorded.
(2) Rules may be made for or with respect to the manner in which the evidence may be
recorded and the authentication of evidence or of transcripts of evidence given in
proceedings.
65 Adjournments
(1) The court may at any stage of proceedings adjourn the proceedings to a specified
time and place.
(2) An adjournment of proceedings may be in such terms as the court thinks fit.
66 Irregularity
(1) If, in or in connection with application proceedings or the commencement of
application proceedings, there is a failure to comply with any requirement of this Act
or the rules, the failure is to be treated as an irregularity and does not nullify the
proceedings or any step taken in the proceedings, or any judgment, document or
order in the proceedings.
(2) Subsection (1) applies to a failure to comply with a requirement relating to time,
place, manner, form or content or any other failure.
(3) In the case of an irregularity, the court may, on terms, set aside wholly or in part the
proceedings or any step taken in the proceedings or any document, judgment or order
in the proceedings or exercise its powers under the rules to allow judgments and to
make orders dealing with the proceedings generally.
(4) The court must not take action under subsection (3) on the application of a party
unless that application is made within a reasonable time and before the party has
taken any fresh step after becoming aware of the irregularity.
67 Power to dispense with rules
(1) In relation to particular application proceedings, the court may, if of the opinion that
it is in the interests of justice to do so, dispense with or vary a requirement of the
rules.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the court may make directions as to the conduct
of application proceedings.
(3) The power conferred by this section does not extend to any rule declared by the rules
to be mandatory.

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68 Power to stay proceedings


(1) Subject to the rules, the court may at any time and from time to time, by order, stay
any application proceedings before it, either permanently or until a specified day.
(2) The power to stay proceedings includes power to order a stay of the enforcement of
an order.
69 Arrest of defendant during proceedings
(1) A Magistrate may, at any time when or after a matter is first before the court and
before it is finally disposed of by the court, issue a warrant to arrest a defendant if the
defendant fails to appear personally or to appear by an Australian legal practitioner
or other representative and the Magistrate is satisfied that the defendant had notice of
the date, time and place of the proceedings.
(2) A Magistrate, Registrar or authorised officer before whom a defendant is brought on
arrest on a warrant issued under this section may, if bail is not dispensed with or
granted, issue a warrant:
(a) committing the defendant to a correctional centre or other place of security,
and
(b) ordering the defendant to be brought before the court at the date, time and
place specified in the order.
(3) The Magistrate, Registrar or authorised officer must give notice of the date, time and
place set to the applicant.
70 Witnesses and production of evidence
The provisions of Part 3 of Chapter 4 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 apply, with
any necessary modifications, to application proceedings in the same way as they
apply to proceedings for summary offences under that Act.
71 Warrants of arrest and warrants of commitment
The provisions of Part 4 of Chapter 4 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 apply, with
any necessary modifications, to warrants of arrest, or warrants of commitment,
issued under this Act in the same way as they apply to warrants of arrest or warrants
of commitment issued under that Act.

Division 5 Variation or revocation of final apprehended violence orders


or interim court orders
72 Application for variation or revocation of final apprehended violence orders
(1) An application may, at any time, be made to a court for the variation or revocation of
a final apprehended violence order or interim court order.
(2) An application for variation or revocation may be made only by:
(a) the protected person (whether or not the protected person made the application
for the original order) or, if there is more than one protected person, by one or
more of the protected persons, or
(a1) the guardian of the protected person, in the case of a protected person in
respect of whom a guardianship order within the meaning of the Guardianship
Act 1987 is in force, or
(b) a police officer, or
(c) the defendant.

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(3) Despite subsection (2), an application for variation or revocation of a final


apprehended violence order or interim court order must be made by a police officer
if the protected person or one of the protected persons under the order is a child at the
time of the application.
(4) The application must set out the grounds on which the application is made and, in the
case of a variation, the nature of the variation sought. This subsection does not limit
the powers of the court.
(5) An application for revocation of a final apprehended violence order may be made by
the defendant even though the order has expired. Subsection (3) does not apply to
such an application.
Note. Certain consequences result from an apprehended violence order being made against
a person if it is not revoked. For example, section 11 of the Firearms Act 1996 provides that a
firearms licence must not be issued to a person who is subject to a final apprehended violence
order or who at any time in the previous 10 years has been subject to such an order (other
than an order that has been revoked).
(6) A court may make an order under this Division revoking a final apprehended
violence order even though that final order has expired if the court is satisfied that,
were that final order still in force, it should be revoked.
(7) In applying the provisions of this Division to an application for revocation of a final
apprehended violence order that has expired, a reference to a protected person
includes a reference to a person for whom the expired order was sought or made.
(8) If an application is made by the defendant for revocation of a final apprehended
violence order that has expired:
(a) the Commissioner of Police is to be notified of the application, and
(b) the court hearing the application must take into account (in addition to any
other matters that it is required to take into account) the effect that revocation
of the expired order may now have on the protected person, having regard to
the grounds on which the expired order was made, and
(c) the court may order that a further application for revocation of the expired
order may not be made by the defendant except with the leave of the court.
73 Variation or revocation of final apprehended violence orders and interim court
orders
(1) The court may, if satisfied that in all the circumstances it is proper to do so, vary or
revoke a final apprehended violence order or interim court order.
(2) In particular, a final apprehended violence order or interim court order may be varied
under this section in any one or more of the following ways:
(a) by extending or reducing the period during which the order is to remain in
force,
(b) by amending or deleting any prohibitions or restrictions specified in the order,
(c) by specifying additional prohibitions or restrictions in the order.
(3) The court may decline to hear an application for variation or revocation of a final
apprehended violence order or interim court order if the court is satisfied that there
has been no change in the circumstances on which the making of the order was based
and that the application is in the nature of an appeal against the order.
(4) A final apprehended violence order or interim court order is not to be varied or
revoked on the application of the defendant unless notice of the application has been
served on each protected person to whom the order relates.

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(5) A final apprehended violence order or interim court order is not to be varied or
revoked on the application of the applicant for the original order or protected person
unless notice of the application has been served on the defendant.
(6) Notice of an application must be served personally or in such other manner as the
court hearing the application directs.
(7) Despite subsection (5), the court may make an order extending the period during
which the final apprehended violence order or interim court order is to remain in
force without notice of the relevant application having been served on the defendant,
if the applicant lodged the application before the day on which the apprehended
violence order or interim court order is due to expire.
(8) If an application for the extension of a final apprehended violence order or interim
court order is made before the order expires, the order is taken to continue in force
until the application is dealt with by the court.
(9) Unless sooner revoked, an order extended under subsection (7) ceases to have effect
21 days after the order extending it is made or on an earlier date specified in the order
extending it. However, further orders may be made from time to time under that
subsection before the extended order ceases to have effect.
74 Variation or revocation of final apprehended violence orders and interim court
orders where more than one protected person
(1) This section applies to a final apprehended violence order or interim court order if
there is more than one protected person under the order.
(2) An order to which this section applies may be varied or revoked in its application to
all of the protected persons or in relation to any one or more of the protected persons.
(3) If an application for variation or revocation of an order to which this section applies
is made by one of the protected persons under the order, none of the other protected
persons can be the subject of the variation or revocation unless the court is satisfied
that he or she is at least 16 years of age and has consented to the variation or
revocation.
Note. Section 72 (3) provides that only a police officer may apply for the variation or revocation
of an order where one of the protected persons under the order is a child.

75 Variation may be made on guilty plea or guilt finding for certain offences
(1) If a person pleads guilty to, or is found guilty of, an offence against section 13 or a
domestic violence offence, the court may vary a final apprehended violence order or
an interim court order for the purpose of providing greater protection for the person
against whom the offence was committed whether or not an application to vary the
order has been made under this Division.
(2) A reference in this section to a court extends to the District Court when exercising
jurisdiction apart from under section 91.

Division 6 Ancillary provisions


76 Explanation of final apprehended violence orders, interim court orders and
variations
(1) A court that makes a final apprehended violence order or interim court order must
explain to the defendant and the protected person (if either of them is present at the
time the order is made):
(a) the effect of the order (including any prohibitions and restrictions imposed by
the order), and
(b) the consequences that may follow from a contravention of the order, and

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(c) the rights of the defendant and the protected person in relation to the order.
(2) A court that varies a final apprehended violence order or interim court order must
explain to the defendant and the protected person (if either of them is present at the
time the variation is made):
(a) the effect of the variation, and
(b) the consequences that may follow from a contravention of the order as varied.
(3) A court that makes a final apprehended violence order or interim court order is also
to cause a written explanation of the matters required to be explained under this
section to be given to the defendant and protected person.
(4) In so far as it is reasonably practicable to do so, an explanation under this section is
to be given in a language that is likely to be readily understood by the person being
given the explanation.
(5) A failure to comply with this section in relation to an order does not affect the validity
of the order.
77 Service of copy of apprehended violence order, interim court order or variation or
revocation of any such order
(1) The Registrar of a court that makes a final apprehended violence order or interim
court order is to prepare a written copy of the order.
(2) The Registrar of a court that varies or revokes a final apprehended violence order or
interim court order is to prepare a written record of the variation or revocation.
(3) The Registrar of the court is to serve a copy of the order or of the record of the
variation or revocation of the order personally on the defendant if the defendant is
present in court.
(4) If the defendant is not present at the time the order is made, the Registrar is to arrange
for a copy of the order or the record of the variation or revocation to be served
personally on the defendant by a police officer or such other person as the Registrar
thinks fit.
(5) If the defendant is present at the time the order is made but the Registrar is unable to
serve a copy of the order or the written record of the variation or revocation
personally on the defendant, the Registrar is to arrange for a copy of the order or
record to be sent by post to the defendant or to such other person as the Registrar
thinks fit.
(6) Service on the defendant of the copy of the order or record concerned may be effected
in such other manner as the court directs.
(7) The Registrar of the court is to cause a copy of the order or record, and a copy of any
application for an order or variation or revocation, to be forwarded to the
Commissioner of Police and (unless it is impracticable or unnecessary to do so) to be
given to or sent by post to each protected person.
(8) The Commissioner of Police is to make a record of the details of the material
forwarded to the Commissioner under this section and is to retain that record for at
least 10 years after the order to which it relates ceases to be in force.
78 Orders made with consent of parties
(1) A court may make a final apprehended violence order, or an interim court order,
without being satisfied as to the matters that are prerequisites to the making of those
orders if the protected person and the defendant consent to the making of the order.

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(2) Such an order may be made whether or not the defendant admits to any or all of the
particulars of the application.
(3) Before making such an order, the court may conduct a hearing in relation to the
particulars of the application but only if:
(a) the order to be made by the court is a final apprehended violence order, and
(b) the court is of the opinion that the interests of justice require it to conduct the
hearing.
79 Duration of final apprehended violence orders
(1) A final apprehended violence order remains in force for such period as is specified
in the order by the court.
(2) The period specified in the order by the court is to be as long as is necessary, in the
opinion of the court, to ensure the safety and protection of the protected person.
(3) If the court fails to specify a period in the order, the order remains in force for a
period of 12 months after the date that the order is made.
(4) This section is subject to section 73 (Variation or revocation of final apprehended
violence orders and interim court orders).
80 Enforcement of orders for payment of money
An order for the payment of money by a party to application proceedings (including
an order as to payment of costs) may be enforced in a court of competent jurisdiction
as if it were a debt due to the person to whom the money is ordered to be paid.
81 Concurrent criminal proceedings
A court may make an apprehended violence order against a defendant even though
proceedings have been commenced against the defendant for an offence arising out
of the same conduct as that out of which the application for the order arose.
82 Arrangements regarding classification of orders
(1) If a court is at any time unable to determine whether to make an apprehended
domestic violence order or an apprehended personal violence order, it may make
whichever apprehended violence order it thinks fit.
(2) If a court is at any time unable to determine whether an apprehended violence order
was made, or should have been made, as an apprehended domestic violence order or
apprehended personal violence order, it may treat the order as having been made as
whichever type of apprehended violence order it thinks fit.
(3) If an apprehended violence order is made or treated as having been made as an
apprehended domestic violence order or an apprehended personal violence order but
should have been made as another type of apprehended violence order, the order is
not invalid on that ground and is taken to have been made as that other type of
apprehended violence order.
83 Application of Bail Act 1978
If an application for a final apprehended violence order or interim court order is
made, the Bail Act 1978 applies to the defendant as if:
(a) where the defendant is arrested pursuant to a warrant issued under this Act or
first appears before a court in answer to a direction to appear given under this
Actthe defendant were an accused person charged with an offence, and
(b) proceedings in respect of the application or order were proceedings in respect
of an offence to which section 8 of the Bail Act 1978 applies.

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Division 7 Appeals
84 Review and appeal provisions concerning making etc of apprehended violence
orders
(1) An application may be made under Part 2 of the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act
2001 by the defendant for the annulment of an apprehended violence order made by
the Local Court or the Childrens Court in the same way as an application may be
made under that Part by a defendant for the annulment of a conviction arising from
a court attendance notice dealt with under Part 2 of Chapter 4 of the Criminal
Procedure Act 1986.
(1A) A person who applied to the Local Court or the Childrens Court for an apprehended
violence order may apply to the Court for the annulment of the dismissal of the
application for the order by the Court, but only if the person was not in attendance
before the Court when the application was dismissed.
(1B) The Local Court or the Childrens Court may grant an application for an annulment
made under subsection (1A) if it is satisfied that, having regard to the circumstances
of the case, there is just cause for doing so. If such an application is granted, the Court
may deal with the application for the apprehended violence order as if the application
for the order had not been dismissed.
(2) An appeal may be made to the District Court:
(a) by the defendant against the making of an apprehended violence order by the
Local Court or the Childrens Court, or
(a1) by the applicant for an apprehended violence order (or, if the applicant was a
police officer, either the applicant or the person for whose protection the order
would have been made) against the dismissal of the application by the Local
Court or the Childrens Court, or
(b) by the applicant for an order or a defendant against the awarding of costs under
section 99 of this Act, or
(c) by a party to an apprehended violence order against the variation or revocation
of the order by the Local Court or the Childrens Court, or
(d) by a party to an apprehended violence order against a refusal by the Local
Court or the Childrens Court to vary or revoke the order.
(3) An appeal under subsection (2):
(a) may be made under Part 3 of the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 in the
same way as an application may be made under that Part by a defendant
against a conviction arising from a court attendance notice dealt with under
Part 2 of Chapter 4 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986, and
(b) may be made only by leave of the District Court in the case of an appeal
against the making of an apprehended violence order that was made with the
consent of the defendant.
(4) The Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 applies to an application or appeal arising
under this section with such modifications as are made by or in accordance with the
regulations under that Act.
(5) For the purposes of this section and the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001, an
order made by a Registrar of a court is taken to have been made by the court.
(5A) Part 6 (Interim court orders) applies to proceedings with respect to an appeal to the
District Court under subsection (2) in the same way as it applies to an application to
the Local Court or the Childrens Court under Part 4 or 5.

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(5B) If the District Court allows an appeal made under this section against the refusal to
annul an apprehended violence order and remits the matter to the Local Court or the
Childrens Court, the District Court must, unless the District Court is satisfied that it
is not necessary to do so, make an interim court order under Part 6 as if an application
for such an order had been duly made.
(6) In this section, party to an apprehended violence order means:
(a) the protected person (whether or not the applicant), but only if the protected
person is of or above the age of 16 years, or
(b) if the applicant was a police officer, that or any other police officer, or
(c) the defendant.
85 Presumption against stay of order
(1) The lodging of a notice of appeal under section 84 does not have the effect of staying
the operation of the order concerned.
(2) The original court may, on application by the defendant, stay the operation of the
order, if satisfied that it is safe to do so, having regard to the need to ensure the safety
and protection of the protected person or any other person.
(3) A stay on the operation of the order continues until the appeal is finally determined,
subject to any order or direction of the District Court.
(4) This section has effect despite section 84 of this Act and section 63 of the Crimes
(Appeal and Review) Act 2001.
(5) A stay on the operation of the order does not have effect if the appellant is in custody
when the appeal is made, unless and until the appellant enters into a bail undertaking
in accordance with the Bail Act 1978, or bail is dispensed with. In the application of
the Bail Act 1978 to the appellant, the appellant is taken to be an accused person who,
because of the prohibitions and restrictions imposed by the order, is in custody.
(6) In this section:
original court, in relation to an order, means:
(a) the Local Court, if the order was made by the Local Court or a Registrar of the
Local Court, or
(b) the Childrens Court, if the order was made by the Childrens Court or the
Registrar of the Childrens Court.

Division 8 Rules
86 Rules in application proceedings
(1) The rules may make provision for or with respect to the following matters relating to
application proceedings:
(a) the practice and procedure in the court and in proceedings before a Registrar,
(b) the recording of evidence, including the manner in which the evidence may be
recorded and the authentication of evidence or of transcripts of evidence given
in proceedings,
(c) the filing and service (including substituted service) of notices under this Act,
(d) additional requirements for the form of warrants,
(e) the functions of Registrars,
(f) the hearing of proceedings, including the procedure to be followed and the
orders to be made, when a party fails to attend,

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(g) empowering the court to dispense with rules of evidence for proving any
matter that is not genuinely in dispute in any proceedings and to dispense with
rules of evidence that might cause expense or delay in proceedings if those
rules were applied in specified circumstances,
(h) prescribing matters relating to expert evidence, including the disclosure, by
providing copies of reports or otherwise, of the nature of expert evidence to be
given, and including the exclusion of expert evidence in the case of
non-compliance with the rules relating to expert evidence or with any order for
disclosure of the nature of expert evidence,
(i) providing for any matter relating to the costs of proceedings.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the rules made for the purposes of this Act may
adopt, with or without modification, the provisions of any rules made under the Civil
Procedure Act 2005.
(3) This section does not give power to make rules with respect to any matter relating to
costs that is regulated by Part 3.2 of the Legal Profession Act 2004.
87 Forms
(1) The Chief Magistrate or Senior Childrens Magistrate:
(a) may approve forms for documents to be used in connection with application
proceedings, and
(b) in the case of documents filed with the court, or issued by the court, by means
of an ECM system within the meaning of the Electronic Transactions Act
2000, may approve the format in which such documents are to be filed or
issued.
(2) Copies of the approved forms are to be made available for public inspection at each
registry of the court and on the courts internet website.
(3) If a form is approved in relation to a document to be used in connection with
proceedings in the court, a document that is filed with or issued by the court is to be
in that form.

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Part 11 Warrants and powers of police to detain defendants


88 Warrant for arrest of defendant in final apprehended violence order matters
(1) If an application for a final apprehended violence order is made, an authorised officer
may issue a warrant for the arrest of the defendant.
(2) The authorised officer may issue a warrant for the arrest of the defendant even though
the defendant is not alleged to have committed an offence.
(3) The authorised officer must issue a warrant for the arrest of the defendant if it appears
to the authorised officer that the personal safety of the person for whose protection
the order is sought will be put at risk unless the defendant is arrested for the purpose
of being brought before the court.
(4) A warrant may not be executed more than 12 months after the date on which it is
issued, unless the court otherwise orders before the end of the 12-month period.
89 Detention of defendant for making and service of provisional order
(1) If a police officer makes or is about to make an application for a provisional order,
the police officer may direct the person against whom the order is sought to remain
at the scene of the incident concerned or, in a case where the person has left the scene
of the incident, at another place where a police officer locates the person.
(2) If the person refuses to remain, the police officer may arrest and detain the person at
the scene of the incident or other place, or arrest and take the person to a police station
and there detain the person, until the provisional order is made and served.
90 Detention of defendant for service of order or variation
(1) A police officer who reasonably suspects that a person is the defendant in relation to
an apprehended violence order may direct the person to remain where the person is
for the purpose only of serving on the person a copy of the order, or a variation of the
order, that is required to be served personally under this Act.
(2) If the person refuses to remain, the police officer may arrest and detain the person at
the same place, or arrest and take the person to a police station and there detain the
person, for the purpose only of serving the document concerned on the person.
Note. Division 1A of Part 3 of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002
enables a police officer to require the name of a person who the police officer suspects on
reasonable grounds may be the defendant in relation to an apprehended violence order.
Section 87 of that Act provides that if a police officer enters a dwelling under a power conferred
by that Act and believes on reasonable grounds that a dangerous article or dangerous
implement that may have been used or may be used to commit a domestic violence offence
is in the dwelling, the police officer may search for the article or implement and seize and
detain it.

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Part 12 Jurisdiction of courts


91 Courts authorised to make orders and determine applications
(1) The following courts have jurisdiction (in the circumstances specified) to make
orders and determine applications under this Act:
(a) the Local Courtexcept where the defendant is less than 18 years of age at the
time the application is made,
(b) the Childrens Courtwhere the defendant is less than 18 years of age at the
time the application is made.
(c) (Repealed)
(2) The Local Court has jurisdiction to vary or revoke an order made by it or any other
court (except where the defendant is less than 18 years of age at the time the
application for the variation or revocation is made).
(3) The Childrens Court has jurisdiction to vary or revoke an order made by it
irrespective of the age of the defendant at the time the application for variation or
revocation is made.
(4) An order made by the Local Court for the purposes of this Act is not invalid on the
ground that it was made in the mistaken belief that the defendant was of or above 18
years of age at the time the application was made.
(5) This section does not apply to provisional orders.
92 (Repealed)

93 Jurisdiction of District Court under this Act


The jurisdiction conferred on the District Court by this Act is conferred on the Court
in its criminal jurisdiction.

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Part 13 Registration of external protection orders


94 Definitions
In this Part:
appropriate court, in relation to an external protection order, means:
(a) the Local Court if the person against whom the order has been made is 18 or
more years of age, or
(b) the Childrens Court if the person against whom the order has been made is
less than 18 years of age,
on the day on which an application is made under this Part for the registration of the
order.
external protection order means an order made by a court of another State or
Territory or New Zealand that has been made to prevent a person from acting in a
manner specified in section 16 or 19, and includes an order made by such a court that
is of a kind prescribed by the regulations.
registered external protection order means an external protection order registered
under this Part.
95 Application for registration of external protection order
(1) A person may apply to a Registrar of the appropriate court for the registration of an
external protection order.
(2) An application is:
(a) to be made in a form approved by the Registrar of the appropriate court, and
(b) to be accompanied by a copy of the external protection order, and
(c) to be accompanied by such evidence of effective service of the external
protection order on the person against whom it has been made as the Registrar
considers appropriate.
96 Registration of external protection order
(1) On receipt of an application under section 95, the Registrar of the appropriate court
must:
(a) register the external protection order to which the application relates, or
(b) refer the external protection order to a Magistrate (or a Childrens Magistrate
if the appropriate court is the Childrens Court) for adaptation or modification.
(2) On the referral of an external protection order, the Magistrate or Childrens
Magistrate may do either or both of the following:
(a) vary the period during which the order has effect in its operation in New South
Wales,
(b) make such other adaptations or modifications to the order as the Magistrate or
Childrens Magistrate considers necessary or desirable for its effective
operation in New South Wales.
(3) The Registrar of the appropriate court must register an external protection order that
has been adapted or modified under subsection (2).
(4) On registering an external protection order, the Registrar of the appropriate court
must provide the Commissioner of Police with a copy of the registered external
protection order.

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(5) Notice of the registration of an external protection order is not to be served on the
person against whom the order has been made unless the person who applied for that
registration has consented to that service.
(6) A registered external protection order is registered for the period during which the
order, or the order as adapted or modified, is in force.
97 Effect of registration of external protection order
(1) An external protection order that has been registered under section 96:
(a) has the same effect as an apprehended violence order made under this Act, and
(b) may be enforced against a person as if it were an apprehended violence order
which had been made under this Act and as if a copy of the order had been
served on that person in accordance with section 77.
(2) The variation or revocation of an external protection order by a court of the State,
Territory or country in which it was made after the order has been registered under
section 96 has no effect in New South Wales.
(3) An external protection order that has been registered under section 96 (and anything
done to effect the registration of the order) is not invalid on the ground that the order
has, due to the age of the defendant at the time the application was made, been
registered in the wrong court.
98 Variation etc of registered external protection orders
(1) In this section, prescribed person means:
(a) a person for whose protection a registered external protection order has been
made, or
(b) a person against whom a registered external protection order has been made, or
(c) a police officer, or
(d) a person to whom the appropriate court in which the external protection order
has been registered has granted leave to make an application under this
section.
(2) A prescribed person may apply to the appropriate court for one or more of the
following:
(a) the variation of a registered external protection order as it applies in New
South Wales,
(b) the extension or reduction of the period during which a registered external
protection order has effect in its operation in New South Wales,
(c) the revocation of the registration of a registered external protection order.
(3) The appropriate court may determine the application by doing one or more of the
following:
(a) by varying the order as it applies in New South Wales,
(b) by extending or reducing the period during which the order has effect in its
operation in New South Wales,
(c) by revoking the registration.
(4) A registered external protection order is not to be varied or revoked on the
application of a person referred to in subsection (1) (a), (c) or (d) unless notice of the
application has been served on the person against whom the order has been made.
(5) A registered external protection order is not to be varied or revoked on the
application of the person against whom the order has been made unless notice of the

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application has been served on the person for whose protection the order has been
made.
(6) Notice of an application is to be served personally or in such other manner as the
appropriate court hearing the application directs.
(7) A registered external protection order varied under subsection (3) (a) or (b) is
registered for the period during which the order, as varied, has effect in its operation
in New South Wales.

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Part 14 Miscellaneous
99 Costs
(1) A court may, in apprehended violence order proceedings, award costs to the
applicant for the order or decision concerned or the defendant in accordance with this
section.
(2) Costs are to be determined in accordance with Division 4 of Part 2 of Chapter 4 of
the Criminal Procedure Act 1986.
(3) A court is not to award costs against an applicant who is the person for whose
protection an apprehended domestic violence order is sought unless satisfied that the
application was frivolous or vexatious.
(4) A court is not to award costs against a police officer who makes an application unless
satisfied that the police officer made the application knowing it contained matter that
was false or misleading in a material particular.
(5) Subsections (3) and (4) have effect despite any other Act or law.
(6) (Repealed)
100 Parts 2 and 3 of Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001
Except as expressly provided by this Act, nothing in this Act affects the operation
that Parts 2 and 3 of the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 would have if this Act
had not been enacted.
101 Regulations
The Governor may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, for or with
respect to any matter that by this Act is required or permitted to be prescribed or that
is necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this
Act.
102 Savings, transitional and other provisions
Schedule 1 has effect.
103 (Repealed)

104 Review of Act


(1) The Minister is to review this Act to determine whether the policy objectives of the
Act remain valid and whether the terms of the Act remain appropriate for securing
those objectives.
(2) The review is to be undertaken as soon as possible after the period of 3 years from
the date of assent to this Act.
(3) A report on the outcome of the review is to be tabled in each House of Parliament
within 12 months after the end of the period of 3 years.

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Schedule 1 Savings, transitional and other provisions


(Section 102)

Part 1 General
1 Regulations
(1) The regulations may contain provisions of a savings or transitional nature consequent
on the enactment of the following Acts:
this Act
Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Amendment Act 2008
(2) Any such provision may, if the regulations so provide, take effect from the date of
assent to the Act concerned or a later date.
(3) To the extent to which any such provision takes effect from a date that is earlier than
the date of its publication in the Gazette, the provision does not operate so as:
(a) to affect, in a manner prejudicial to any person (other than the State or an
authority of the State), the rights of that person existing before the date of its
publication, or
(b) to impose liabilities on any person (other than the State or an authority of the
State) in respect of anything done or omitted to be done before the date of its
publication.

Part 2 Provisions consequent on enactment of this Act


2 Preliminary
(1) In this Part:
commencement means the day on which this Act commences.
old Part 15A means Part 15A of the Crimes Act 1900 as in force at any time before
its repeal by this Act.
(2) The provisions of this Part are subject to the regulations.
3 Existing apprehended violence orders and interim orders
(1) An apprehended domestic violence order made under the old Part 15A before the
repeal of that Part by this Act is taken to have been made under this Act.
(2) An apprehended personal violence order made under the old Part 15A before the
repeal of that Part by this Act is taken to have been made under this Act.
(3) An interim order made by a court or registrar under the old Part 15A before the repeal
of that Part by this Act is taken to be an interim court order made under this Act.
(4) A telephone interim order made under the old Part 15A before the repeal of that Part
by this Act is taken to be a provisional order made under this Act.
(5) An external protection order registered under Division 10 of the old Part 15A is taken
to have been registered under Part 13 of this Act.
(6) Any order taken by this clause to have been made under this Act has effect for the
same period as it would have had under the provisions of the old Part 15A but may
be varied or revoked in accordance with this Act.

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4 Pending applications
An application for an order under the old Part 15A that has not been determined
before the repeal of that Part by this Act is taken to be an application for the same
type of order under this Act.
5 References to repealed provisions
(1) A reference in any other Act or instrument to Part 15A of the Crimes Act 1900
includes a reference to this Act.
(2) A reference to this Act in any other Act or instrument includes a reference to old Part
15A.
(3) A reference in this Act or any other Act or instrument to section 13 of this Act
includes a reference to sections 545AB and 562AB of the Crimes Act 1900 (as in
force before their repeal).
(4) A reference in this Act or any other Act or instrument to section 14 of this Act
includes a reference to sections 562I (as in force before its substitution by the Crimes
Amendment (Apprehended Violence) Act 2006) and 562ZG (as in force before its
repeal) of the Crimes Act 1900.
(5) A reference in this or any other Act or instrument to a final apprehended violence
order made under this Act includes a reference to a final order within the meaning of
old Part 15A.
(6) A reference in this or any other Act or instrument to an interim apprehended violence
order made under this Act includes a reference to an interim order made by a court
under old Part 15A or a telephone interim order within the meaning of old Part 15A.
(7) A reference in this or any other Act or instrument to an application for an order under
this Act includes a reference to a complaint or application for an order under old Part
15A.
(8) A reference in this or any other Act or instrument to apprehended violence order
proceedings within the meaning of this Act includes a reference to proceedings under
old Part 15A in relation to an apprehended violence order or an application or
complaint for an apprehended violence order.
6 Recording of domestic violence offences
Section 12 extends to:
(a) enabling the making of an application to record a domestic violence offence
occurring before the commencement of that section, and
(b) authorising the recording of domestic violence offences occurring before the
commencement of that section.

Part 3 Provisions consequent on enactment of Crimes


(Domestic and Personal Violence) Amendment Act 2008
7 Definition
In this Part, relevant amendment means:
(a) an amendment made to Part 2 of this Schedule by the Crimes (Domestic and
Personal Violence) Amendment Act 2008, or
(b) an amendment made to an Act or regulation by Schedule 2 to the Crimes
(Domestic and Personal Violence) Amendment Act 2008.

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Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 No 80 [NSW]
Schedule 1 Savings, transitional and other provisions

8 Effect of certain savings and transitional amendments


(1) Anything done or omitted to be done on or after the commencement of this Act, but
before the commencement of a relevant amendment, that would have been valid if
the amendment had been in force at the time that it was done or omitted is taken to
have been validly done or omitted.
(2) Anything done or omitted to be done before the commencement of this Act in
purported compliance with the Firearms Act 1996 that would have been valid if, at
the time that the thing was done or omitted, the definition of interim apprehended
violence order in section 4 (1) of that Act included a reference to a telephone interim
order within the meaning of Part 15A of the Crimes Act 1900 is taken to have been
validly done or omitted.
(3) Anything done or omitted to be done before the commencement of this Act in
purported compliance with the Weapons Prohibition Act 1998 that would have been
valid if, at the time that the thing was done or omitted, the definition of interim
apprehended violence order in section 4 (1) of that Act included a telephone interim
order within the meaning of Part 15A of the Crimes Act 1900 is taken to have been
validly done or omitted.
(4) Subclauses (1)(3) do not affect any decision of a court or tribunal made before the
commencement of this clause or any proceedings before a court or tribunal
commenced before the commencement of this clause.
9 Service of provisional order on defendant
Section 31 (2) (as inserted by the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence)
Amendment Act 2008) does not apply to a provisional order made before the
commencement of the subsection.

Schedule 2 (Repealed)

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Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 No 80 [NSW]
Historical Notes

Historical notes
The following abbreviations are used in the Historical notes:
Am amended LW legislation website Sch Schedule
Cl clause No number Schs Schedules
Cll clauses p page Sec section
Div Division pp pages Secs sections
Divs Divisions Reg Regulation Subdiv Subdivision
GG Government Gazette Regs Regulations Subdivs Subdivisions
Ins inserted Rep repealed Subst substituted

Table of amending instruments


Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 No 80. Assented to 7.12.2007. Date of commencement,
10.3.2008, sec 2 and GG No 30 of 7.3.2008, p 1429. This Act has been amended as follows:

2008 No 53 Courts and Crimes Legislation Amendment Act 2008. Assented to


1.7.2008.
Date of commencement of Sch 8, 1.7.2008, sec 2 (5).
No 114 Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 2) 2008. Assented to
10.12.2008.
Date of commencement of Sch 4, assent, sec 2 (1).
No 119 Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Amendment Act 2008.
Assented to 10.12.2008.
Date of commencement, assent, sec 2.
2009 No 4 Crimes (Appeal and Review) Amendment Act 2009. Assented to
30.3.2009.
Date of commencement of Sch 2, assent, sec 2 (1).
No 27 Criminal Legislation Amendment Act 2009. Assented to 19.5.2009.
Date of commencement, assent, sec 2.
No 56 Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. Assented to 1.7.2009.
Date of commencement of Sch 1.9, 17.7.2009, sec 2 (2).
No 106 Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 2) 2009. Assented to
14.12.2009.
Date of commencement of Sch 4, 8.1.2010, sec 2 (2).
2010 No 19 Relationships Register Act 2010. Assented to 19.5.2010.
Date of commencement of Sch 3, assent, sec 2 (2).
No 42 Residential Tenancies Act 2010. Assented to 17.6.2010.
Date of commencement, 31.1.2011, sec 2 and 2010 (658) LW 3.12.2010.
2012 No 67 Crimes Legislation Amendment Act 2012. Assented to 24.9.2012.
Date of commencement, assent, sec 2.

Table of amendments

Sec 3 Am 2008 No 53, Sch 8 [1] [2].


Sec 4 Am 2008 No 119, Sch 1 [1].
Sec 5 Am 2010 No 19, Sch 3.30 [1] [2].

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Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 No 80 [NSW]
Historical Notes

Sec 6 Am 2010 No 19, Sch 3.30 [3].


Sec 13 Am 2009 No 27, Sch 1.4 [1].
Sec 14 Am 2009 No 27, Sch 1.4 [2][4].
Sec 31 Am 2008 No 119, Sch 1 [2].
Sec 35 Am 2008 No 119, Sch 1 [3][5]; 2010 No 42, Sch 3.3.
Sec 37 Am 2008 No 119, Sch 1 [6].
Sec 38 Subst 2008 No 119, Sch 1 [7].
Sec 48 Am 2008 No 119, Sch 1 [8], 2012 No 67, Sch 3.1 [1] [2].
Sec 72 Am 2008 No 119, Sch 1 [9]; 2012 No 67, Sch 3.1 [3].
Sec 84 Am 2008 No 53, Sch 8 [3] [4]; 2009 No 4, Sch 2.1 [1][3]; 2009 No 56,
Sch 1.9; 2009 No 106, Sch 4.11 [1] [2].
Sec 91 Am 2008 No 53, Sch 8 [5].
Sec 92 Rep 2008 No 53, Sch 8 [6].
Sec 99 Am 2008 No 53, Sch 8 [7].
Sec 103 Rep 2008 No 114, Sch 4.
Sch 1 Am 2008 No 119, Sch 1 [10][14].
Sch 2 Rep 2008 No 114, Sch 4.

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