A round-the-clock GPS tracking trial of domestic violence offenders will be rolled out in two Queensland centres.
State Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Minister Amanda Camm said, from October, Magistrates Courts in Townsville and Caboolture would have the power to impose trackers on the high-risk offenders as part of their domestic violence orders (DVOs).
Minister Camm said the high-risk perpetrators of domestic and family violence would be tracked 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
She said the pilot program would have the capacity to track 150 offenders by the end of 2025, and 500 by the end of 2028.
“GPS trackers for high-risk DFV offenders complement existing safety planning undertaken in consultation with specialist DFV services and victim-survivors.”
Minister Camm said victim-survivors would have the option of carrying their own personal safety device to alert them if a perpetrator had breached their order or came within a certain proximity of a victim, so they could immediately enact their safety plan.
She said monitoring devices would be available to be imposed on perpetrators with a history of DFV offences, or a current or previous conviction of an indictable offence involving violence.
“Courts will also consider the views and wishes of the victim-survivor when deciding to impose a GPS tracker.”
Minister Camm said $28.5 million had been allocated to establish the framework and deliver the pilot program.
She said other measures included in recent legislation related to domestic violence included allowing police officers responding to incidents to issue on the spot Police Protection Directions, to provide immediate, 12-month long protection to victim-survivors and the use of video recorded evidence-in-chief for DFV victim survivors, to ease trauma on victims during the court process.
