Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012

An Act to provide for protection of a person against violence committed or threatened by someone else if a relevant relationship exists between the persons

Long title amd 2012 No. 5 s 230 sch 1 pt 1

Preamble

In enacting this Act, the Parliament of Queensland recognises the following—

1Australia is a party to the following instruments—

•Universal Declaration of Human Rights

•United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women

•United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

•United Nations Principles for Older Persons.

2Living free from violence is a human right and fundamental social value.

3Domestic violence is a violation of human rights that is not acceptable in any community or culture and traditional or cultural practices can not be relied upon to minimise or excuse domestic violence.

4Domestic violence is often an overt or subtle expression of a power imbalance, resulting in one person living in fear of another, and usually involves an ongoing pattern of abuse over a period of time.

5Domestic violence can have serious impacts on people who experience it, including physical, emotional and psychological harm, and can result in death.

6Perpetrators of domestic violence are solely responsible for their use of violence and its impacts on other people.

7Domestic violence is most often perpetrated by men against women with whom they are in an intimate partner relationship and their children; however, anyone can be a victim or perpetrator of domestic violence.

8Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women and children.

9Children who are exposed to domestic violence can experience serious physical, psychological and emotional harm.

10Behaviour that constitutes domestic violence can also constitute a criminal offence.

1Short title

This Act may be cited as the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012.

2Commencement

This Act commences on 17 September 2012.

3Main objects

(1)The main objects of this Act are—

(a)to maximise the safety, protection and wellbeing of people who fear or experience domestic violence, and to minimise disruption to their lives; and

(b)to prevent or reduce domestic violence and the exposure of children to domestic violence; and

(c)to ensure that people who commit domestic violence are held accountable for their actions.

(2)The objects are to be achieved mainly by—

(a)allowing a court to make a domestic violence order to provide protection against further domestic violence; and

(b)giving police particular powers to respond to domestic violence, including the power to issue a police protection notice; and

(c)imposing consequences for contravening a domestic violence order or police protection notice, in particular, liability for the commission of an offence.

4Principles for administering Act

(1)This Act is to be administered under the principle that the safety, protection and wellbeing of people who fear or experience domestic violence, including children, are paramount.

(2)Subject to subsection (1), this Act is also to be administered under the following principles—

(a)people who fear or experience domestic violence, including children, should be treated with respect and disruption to their lives should be minimised;

(b)to the extent that it is appropriate and practicable, the views and wishes of people who fear or experience domestic violence should be sought before a decision affecting them is made under this Act;

(c)perpetrators of domestic violence should be held accountable for their use of violence and its impact on other people and, if possible, provided with an opportunity to change;

(d)if people have characteristics that may make them particularly vulnerable to domestic violence, any response to the domestic violence should take account of those characteristics;

Examples of people who may be particularly vulnerable to domestic violence—

•women

•children

•Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples

•people from a culturally or linguistically diverse background

•people with disability

•people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex

•elderly people

(e)in circumstances in which there are conflicting allegations of domestic violence or indications that both persons in a relationship are committing acts of violence, including for their self-protection—

(i)the person who is most in need of protection in the relationship should be identified; and

(ii)only 1 domestic violence order protecting that person should be in force unless, in exceptional circumstances, there is clear evidence that each of the persons in the relationship is in need of protection from the other;

(f)a civil response under this Act should operate in conjunction with, not instead of, the criminal law.

s 4 amd 2015 No. 34 s 4; 2023 No. 1 s 30

5Dictionary

The dictionary in the schedule defines particular words used in this Act.

s 5 amd 2012 No. 5 s 230 sch 1 pt 1

6Meaning of court

Court means—

(a)if an application is made to a Magistrates Court—the Magistrates Court; or

(b)if an application is made to a magistrate—the magistrate; or

(c)if a court convicts a person of a domestic violence offence—the court that convicts the person; or

(d)if the Childrens Court is hearing a child protection proceeding—the Childrens Court.

s 6 amd 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch 1

7Purpose of this part

(1)This part explains how domestic violence is dealt with under this Act, including setting out some of the ideas that are important for an understanding of this Act.

(2)In particular, this part defines particular words used in this Act, including, for example, what is domestic violence and the relationships that are protected by this Act.

8Meaning of domestic violence

(1)Domestic violence means behaviour, or a pattern of behaviour, by a person (the first person) towards another person (the second person) with whom the first person is in a relevant relationship that—

(a)is physically or sexually abusive; or

(b)is emotionally or psychologically abusive; or

(c)is economically abusive; or

(d)is threatening; or

(e)is coercive; or

(f)in any other way controls or dominates the second person and causes the second person to fear for the second person’s safety or wellbeing or that of someone else.

(2)Behaviour, or a pattern of behaviour, mentioned in subsection (1)—

(a)may occur over a period of time; and

(b)may be more than 1 act, or a series of acts, that when considered cumulatively is abusive, threatening, coercive or causes fear in a way mentioned in that subsection; and

(c)is to be considered in the context of the relationship between the first person and the second person as a whole.

(3)Without limiting subsection (1) or (2), domestic violence includes the following behaviour—

(a)causing personal injury to a person or threatening to do so;

(b)coercing a person to engage in sexual activity or attempting to do so;

(c)damaging a person’s property or threatening to do so;

(d)depriving a person of the person’s liberty or threatening to do so;

(e)threatening a person with the death or injury of the person, a child of the person, or someone else;

(f)threatening to commit suicide or self-harm so as to torment, intimidate or frighten the person to whom the behaviour is directed;

(g)causing or threatening to cause the death of, or injury to, an animal, whether or not the animal belongs to the person to whom the behaviour is directed, so as to control, dominate or coerce the person;

(h)unauthorised surveillance of a person;

(i)unlawfully stalking, intimidating, harassing or abusing a person.

(4)A person who counsels or procures someone else to engage in behaviour that, if engaged in by the person, would be domestic violence is taken to have committed domestic violence.

(5)To remove any doubt, it is declared that, for behaviour mentioned in subsection (3) that may constitute a criminal offence, a court may make an order under this Act on the basis that the behaviour is domestic violence even if the behaviour is not proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

(6)In this section—

coerce, a person, means compel or force a person to do, or refrain from doing, something.

unauthorised surveillance, of a person, means the unreasonable monitoring or tracking of the person’s movements, activities or interpersonal associations without the person’s consent, including, for example, by using technology.

Examples of surveillance by using technology—

•reading a person’s SMS messages

•monitoring a person’s email account or internet browser history

•monitoring a person’s account with a social networking internet site

•using a GPS device to track a person’s movements

•checking the recorded history in a person’s GPS device

unlawful stalking, intimidation, harassment or abuse see the Criminal Code, sections 359B and 359D.

s 8 amd 2023 No. 1 s 31

9Meaning of associated domestic violence

Associated domestic violence means behaviour mentioned in section 8(1) by a respondent towards—

(a)a child of an aggrieved; or

(b)a child who usually lives with an aggrieved; or

(c)a relative of an aggrieved; or

(d)an associate of an aggrieved.

10Meaning of exposed to domestic violence

A child is exposed to domestic violence if the child sees or hears domestic violence or otherwise experiences the effects of domestic violence.

Examples of being exposed to domestic violence—

•overhearing threats of physical abuse

•overhearing repeated derogatory taunts, including racial taunts

•experiencing financial stress arising from economic abuse

•seeing or hearing an assault

•comforting or providing assistance to a person who has been physically abused

•observing bruising or other injuries of a person who has been physically abused

•cleaning up a site after property has been damaged

•being present at a domestic violence incident that is attended by police officers

11Meaning of emotional or psychological abuse

Emotional or psychological abuse means behaviour, or a pattern of behaviour, by a person towards another person that torments, intimidates, harasses or is offensive to the other person.

Examples—

•following a person when the person is out in public, including by vehicle or on foot

•remaining outside a person’s residence or place of work

•repeatedly contacting a person by telephone, SMS message, email or social networking site without the person’s consent

•repeated derogatory taunts, including racial taunts

•threatening to disclose a person’s sexual orientation to the person’s friends or family without the person’s consent

•threatening to withhold a person’s medication

•preventing a person from making or keeping connections with the person’s family, friends or culture, including cultural or spiritual ceremonies or practices, or preventing the person from expressing the person’s cultural identity

s 11 amd 2023 No. 1 s 32

12Meaning of economic abuse

Economic abuse means behaviour, or a pattern of behaviour, by a person (the first person) that is coercive, deceptive or unreasonably controls another person (the second person), without the second person’s consent—

(a)in a way that denies the second person the economic or financial autonomy the second person would have had but for that behaviour; or

(b)by withholding or threatening to withhold the financial support necessary for meeting the reasonable living expenses of the second person or a child, if the second person or the child is entirely or predominantly dependent on the first person for financial support to meet those living expenses.

Examples—

•coercing a person to relinquish control over assets and income

•removing or keeping a person’s property without the person’s consent, or threatening to do so

•disposing of property owned by a person, or owned jointly with a person, against the person’s wishes and without lawful excuse

•without lawful excuse, preventing a person from having access to joint financial assets for the purposes of meeting normal household expenses

•preventing a person from seeking or keeping employment

•coercing a person to claim social security payments

•coercing a person to sign a power of attorney that would enable the person’s finances to be managed by another person

•coercing a person to sign a contract for the purchase of goods or services

•coercing a person to sign a contract for the provision of finance, a loan or credit

•coercing a person to sign a contract of guarantee

•coercing a person to sign any legal document for the establishment or operation of a business

s 12 amd 2023 No. 1 s 33

13Meaning of relevant relationship

A relevant relationship is—

(a)an intimate personal relationship; or

(b)a family relationship; or

(c)an informal care relationship.

14Meaning of intimate personal relationship

An intimate personal relationship is—

(a)a spousal relationship; or

(b)an engagement relationship; or

(c)a couple relationship.

15Meaning of spousal relationship

(1)A spousal relationship exists between spouses.

Note—

A reference to a spouse includes a de facto partner. For definitions of spouse and de facto partner, see the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, schedule 1 and section 32DA.

(2)A spouse, of a person, includes—

(a)a former spouse of the person; and

(b)a parent, or former parent, of a child of the person.

(3)For subsection (2)(b), it is irrelevant whether there is or was any relationship between the parents of the child.

(4)In this section—

former parent includes—

(a)a birth parent who stops being a parent of a child under the Surrogacy Act 2010, section 39(2)(b); and

(b)a birth parent who stops being a parent of a child under a cultural recognition order made under the Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa (Torres Strait Islander Traditional Child Rearing Practice) Act 2020.

s 15 amd 2013 No. 39 s 111 sch 4; 2020 No. 33 s 130

16Meaning of parent

(1)A parent, of a child, means—

(a)the child’s mother or father; and

(b)anyone else, other than the chief executive (child protection), having or exercising parental responsibility for the child.

(2)However, a parent of a child does not include—

(a)a person standing in the place of a parent of the child on a temporary basis; or

(b)an approved foster carer for the child; or

(c)an approved kinship carer for the child.

(3)A parent of an Aboriginal child includes a person who, under Aboriginal tradition, is regarded as a parent of the child.

(4)A parent of a Torres Strait Islander child includes a person who, under Island custom, is regarded as a parent of the child.

(5)In this section—

approved foster carer see the Child Protection Act 1999, schedule 3.

approved kinship carer see the Child Protection Act 1999, schedule 3.

17Meaning of engagement relationship

An engagement relationship exists between 2 persons if the persons are or were engaged to be married to each other, including a betrothal under cultural or religious tradition.

18Meaning of couple relationship

(1)A couple relationship exists between 2 persons if the persons have or had a relationship as a couple.

(2)In deciding whether a couple relationship exists, a court may have regard to the following—

(a)the circumstances of the relationship between the persons, including, for example—

(i)the degree of trust between the persons; and

(ii)the level of each person’s dependence on, and commitment to, the other person;

(b)the length of time for which the relationship has existed or did exist;

(c)the frequency of contact between the persons;

(d)the degree of intimacy between the persons.

(3)Without limiting subsection (2), the court may consider the following factors in deciding whether a couple relationship exists—

(a)whether the trust, dependence or commitment is or was of the same level;

(b)whether 1 of the persons is or was financially dependent on the other;

(c)whether the persons jointly own or owned any property;

(d)whether the persons have or had joint bank accounts;

(e)whether the relationship involves or involved a relationship of a sexual nature;

(f)whether the relationship is or was exclusive.

(4)A couple relationship may exist even if the court makes a negative finding in relation to any or all of the factors mentioned in subsection (3).

(5)A couple relationship may exist between 2 persons whether the persons are of the same or a different gender.

(6)A couple relationship does not exist merely because 2 persons date or dated each other on a number of occasions.

19Meaning of family relationship and relative

(1)A family relationship exists between 2 persons if 1 of them is or was the relative of the other.

(2)A relative of a person is someone who is ordinarily understood to be or to have been connected to the person by blood or marriage.

Examples of an individual’s relatives—

an individual’s spouse, child (including a child 18 years or more), stepchild, parent, step-parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, nephew, cousin, half-brother, mother-in-law or aunt-in-law

Examples of an individual’s former relatives—

•the person who would be the individual’s mother-in-law if the individual was still in a spousal relationship with the person’s son or daughter

•the person who would be the step-parent of the individual if the spousal relationship between the person and the person’s former spouse, the individual’s parent, had not ended

•the individual’s step-siblings when the parent they do not have in common has died

(3)For deciding if someone is connected by marriage, any 2 persons who are or were spouses of each other are considered to be or to have been married to each other.

(4)A relative of a person (the first person) is also either of the following persons if it is or was reasonable to regard the person as a relative especially considering that for some people the concept of a relative may be wider than is ordinarily understood—

(a)a person whom the first person regards or regarded as a relative;

(b)a person who regards or regarded himself or herself as a relative of the first person.

Examples of people who may have a wider concept of a relative—

•Aboriginal people

•Torres Strait Islanders

•members of certain communities with non-English speaking backgrounds

•people with particular religious beliefs

(5)In deciding if a person is a relative of someone else—

(a)a subsection of this section must not be used to limit another subsection of this section; and

(b)each subsection is to have effect even though, as a result, a person may be considered to be a relative who would not ordinarily be understood to be a relative.

20Meaning of informal care relationship

(1)An informal care relationship exists between 2 persons if 1 of them is or was dependent on the other person (the carer) for help in an activity of daily living.

Examples of help in an activity of daily living—

•dressing or other personal grooming of a person

•preparing a person’s meals or helping a person with eating meals

•shopping for a person’s groceries

•telephoning a specialist to make a medical appointment for a person

(2)An informal care relationship does not exist between a child and a parent of a child.

(3)An informal care relationship does not exist between 2 persons if 1 person helps the other person in an activity of daily living under a commercial arrangement.

Example for subsection (3)—

The relationship between a person and a nurse who visits the person each day to help with bathing and physiotherapy is not an informal care relationship because the nurse visits the person under a commercial arrangement made between the person and the nurse’s employer.

(4)For subsection (3)—

(a)a commercial arrangement may exist even if a person does not pay a fee for the help provided under the arrangement; and

Example for paragraph (a)—

The provision of help by a voluntary organisation for which a person does not pay a fee may still be under a commercial arrangement.

(b)an arrangement is not a commercial arrangement because 1 person receives a pension or allowance, or reimbursement for the purchase price of goods, for the help provided under the arrangement; and

(c)an arrangement is not a commercial arrangement if 1 person pays a fee for the help provided under the arrangement because of domestic violence committed by the other person.

21Who is an aggrieved and who is a respondent

(1)An aggrieved means the person for whose benefit a domestic violence order, or a police protection notice, is in force or may be made under this Act.

(2)Only 1 person may be named as the aggrieved in an application for a domestic violence order, or in a domestic violence order or police protection notice.

(3)A respondent means a person against whom a domestic violence order, or a police protection notice, is in force or may be made under this Act.

(4)More than 1 person may be named as the respondent in an application for a domestic violence order, or in a domestic violence order.

(5)Only 1 person may be named as the respondent in a police protection notice.

22Child as aggrieved or respondent

(1)A person who is a child can be named as the aggrieved or the respondent in an application for a domestic violence order, or in a domestic violence order or police protection notice.

(2)However, a child can only be named as the aggrieved or the respondent if an intimate personal relationship or an informal care relationship exists between the child and the other party named in the application, order or notice.

(3)Subsection (2) does not limit—

(a)the interstate orders that are recognised interstate orders under part 6; or

(b)the New Zealand orders that may be registered under part 6, division 4.

(4)In this section—

other party, named in an application, order or notice, means—

(a)in relation to an aggrieved—the respondent or any 1 of the respondents named in the application, order or notice; or

(b)in relation to a respondent—the aggrieved named in the application, order or notice.

s 22 amd 2016 No. 51 s 51

22A Who is the person most in need of protection in a relevant relationship

(1)A person (the first person), who is in a relevant relationship with another person (the second person), is the person most in need of protection in the relationship if, when the behaviour of each of the persons is considered in the context of their relationship as a whole—

(a)the behaviour of the second person towards the first person is, more likely than not—

(i)abusive, threatening or coercive; or

(ii)controlling or dominating of the first person and causing the first person to fear for the safety or wellbeing of the first person, a child of the first person, another person or an animal (including a pet); or

(b)the first person’s behaviour towards the second person is, more likely than not—

(i)for the first person’s self-protection or the protection of a child of the first person, another person or an animal (including a pet); or

(ii)in retaliation to the second person’s behaviour towards the first person, a child of the first person, another person or an animal (including a pet); or

(iii)attributable to the cumulative effect of the second person’s domestic violence towards the first person.

(2)In deciding which person in a relevant relationship is the person most in need of protection, a court must consider—

(a)the history of the relevant relationship, and of domestic violence, between the persons; and

(b)the nature and severity of the harm caused to each person by the behaviour of the other person; and

(c)the level of fear experienced by each person because of the behaviour of the other person; and

(d)which person has the capacity—

(i)to seriously harm the other person; or

(ii)to control or dominate the other person and cause the other person to fear for the safety or wellbeing of the first person, a child of the first person, another person or an animal (including a pet); and

(e)whether the persons have characteristics that may make them particularly vulnerable to domestic violence.

Examples of people who may be particularly vulnerable to domestic violence—

•women

•children

•Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples

•people from a culturally or linguistically diverse background

•people with disability

•people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex

•elderly people

s 22A ins 2023 No. 1 s 34

23What orders can a court make to prevent domestic violence

(1)A court can make a domestic violence order against a respondent for the benefit of an aggrieved.

(2)A domestic violence order means—

(a)a protection order; or

(b)a temporary protection order.

(3)A temporary protection order is an order made in the period before a court decides whether to make a protection order for the benefit of an aggrieved.

(4)Sometimes, the court can make a domestic violence order even though the person against whom the order is made—

(a)is not notified about an application for a domestic violence order; or

(b)does not appear in court.

24Who can a domestic violence order protect

(1)As well as the aggrieved, the following persons can be protected by a domestic violence order—

(a)a child of the aggrieved;

(b)a child who usually lives with the aggrieved;

(c)a relative of the aggrieved;

(d)an associate of the aggrieved.

(2)A child who usually lives with the aggrieved means a child who spends time at the residence of the aggrieved on a regular or on-going basis.

(3)An associate of the aggrieved means either of the following persons if it is reasonable to regard the person as an associate—

(a)a person whom the aggrieved regards as an associate;

(b)a person who regards himself or herself as an associate of the aggrieved.

Examples of persons who could be associates of the aggrieved—

•a person who is the current spouse or partner of the aggrieved

•a person who works at the same place as the aggrieved

•a person who lives at the same place as the aggrieved

•a person who provides support or assistance to the aggrieved, including, for example, a friend or neighbour

(4)A person mentioned in subsection (1) is protected by being specifically named in the domestic violence order under section 52 or 53.

(5)The person may be specifically named in the domestic violence order when it is made or at a later time if it is varied.

(6)The specifically named person is called a named person.

25Who can apply for a protection order

(1)An application for a protection order can be made only by—

(a)an aggrieved; or

(b)an authorised person for an aggrieved; or

(c)a police officer under section 100(2)(a); or

(d)a person acting under another Act for the aggrieved.

Examples of persons acting under another Act—

•a guardian for a personal matter of the aggrieved under the Guardianship and Administration Act 2000

•an attorney for a personal matter of the aggrieved under an enduring power of attorney under the Powers of Attorney Act 1998

(2)An authorised person for an aggrieved means—

(a)an adult authorised in writing by the aggrieved to appear on behalf of the aggrieved; or

(b)an adult whom the court believes is authorised by the aggrieved to appear on behalf of the aggrieved even though the authority is not in writing.

Example for paragraph (b)—

A 19-year-old man has a physical disability that results in him not being able to sign an authority. He alleges his uncle has threatened physical harm to him. The man orally authorises his grandfather to apply for a protection order against the uncle. The court may believe the grandfather is authorised to appear on behalf of the man after hearing evidence about the authorisation.

(3)A person who may make an application for a protection order under subsection (1) may make other applications or bring other proceedings under this Act in relation to a domestic violence order made because of the application for the protection order.

26When can a court make a protection order

A court can make a protection order if—

(a)an application for a protection order is made to the court by any of the persons mentioned in section 25(1); or

(b)the court convicts a person of a domestic violence offence; or

(c)the court is the Childrens Court hearing a child protection proceeding.

s 26 amd 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch 1

27When can a court make a temporary protection order

A court can make a temporary protection order if—

(a)the court adjourns a proceeding mentioned in section 44(1)(a), (b) or (c); or

(b)the applicant for a protection order has asked the clerk of the court under section 36 for the application to be heard by the court—

(i)before the application is served on the respondent; or

(ii)before the application is served on the respondent and without the applicant giving the court a verification declaration; or

(c)the applicant for the variation of a protection order has asked the clerk of the court under section 90 for the application to be heard by the court—

(i)before the application is served on the respondent; or

(ii)before the application is served on the respondent and without the applicant giving the court a variation declaration; or

(d)a police officer applies for a temporary protection order under part 4, division 4.

s 27 amd 2021 No. 23 s 6; 2022 No. 12 s 52 sch 1 pt 1

28What are the conditions of a domestic violence order

If a court makes a domestic violence order—

(a)the respondent must be of good behaviour and must not commit domestic violence or associated domestic violence; and

(b)if a child of the aggrieved, or a child who usually lives with the aggrieved, is a named person in the order, the respondent must not expose the child to domestic violence; and

(c)the respondent must comply with any other conditions imposed by the court and stated in the order.

Note—

See part 3, division 5 for provisions about the other conditions a court can impose on the respondent.

s 28 amd 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch 1

29What happens if circumstances change after a domestic violence order is made

If circumstances change after a domestic violence order is made, a person can apply under section 86 for a variation of the order.

Examples of changes of circumstances—

1A protection order is made that includes only the standard conditions. The respondent commits further, and more serious, domestic violence against the aggrieved. In addition to charging the respondent with an offence, a police officer may apply for a variation of the protection order to include additional conditions in the order to give greater protection to the aggrieved.

2A temporary protection order is made because of an application under section 129 by a police officer. The aggrieved’s place of residence is stated in the order as premises that the respondent is prohibited from approaching. If the aggrieved’s place of residence changes, a variation of the temporary protection order may be sought under section 86.

30What can happen if a respondent does not comply with a domestic violence order

(1)If a respondent does not comply with a domestic violence order, including a recognised interstate order, a police officer can charge the respondent with an offence.

(2)An aggrieved, named person or anyone else can complain to a police officer that the respondent is not complying with the order.

s 30 amd 2016 No. 51 s 52

31What is the effect of an order made in another State or New Zealand

(1)If a person has obtained an interstate order in another State, the interstate order is a recognised interstate order under part 6 and enforceable under this Act.

(2)If a person has obtained a New Zealand order, the New Zealand order—

(a)may be registrable in Queensland under part 6 or in another State under a corresponding law; and

(b)if registered in Queensland or another State, is a recognised interstate order under part 6 and enforceable under this Act.

s 31 sub 2016 No. 51 s 53

32Application for protection order

(1)An application for a protection order may be made to a Magistrates Court by—

(a)an aggrieved; or

(b)an authorised person for an aggrieved; or

(c)a police officer under section 100(2)(a); or

(d)a person acting under another Act for an aggrieved.

(2)The application must—

(a)be in the approved form; and

(b)state the grounds on which it is made; and

(c)state the nature of the order sought; and

(d)if the applicant is not a police officer—be verified by the applicant by a statutory declaration (a verification declaration); and

(e)be filed in the court.

(3)However, subsection (2)(d) does not apply to an applicant if the clerk of the court agrees to grant the applicant’s request under section 36(2)(b).

s 32 amd 2021 No. 23 s 7

33Fixing of date, time and place for hearing

(1)If the applicant for the protection order is a police officer, as soon as practicable after the application is prepared, the police officer must prepare a copy of the application that states the date, time and place for the hearing of the application.

(2)If the applicant for the protection order is not a police officer, as soon as practicable after the application is filed in the court, the clerk of the court must—

(a)write on a copy of the application the date, time and place for the hearing of the application; and

(b)give the copy of the application to—

(i)the applicant; and

(ii)the officer in charge of the police station nearest the place where the respondent lives or was last known to live.

34Service of application

(1)A police officer must personally serve the copy of the application prepared under section 33(1) or (2)(a) on the respondent.

Note—

Under section 36 an applicant may ask the court for a hearing before the application is served on the respondent.

(2)The copy of the application must state that, if the respondent does not appear in court—

(a)a domestic violence order may be made in the respondent’s absence; or

(b)the court may issue a warrant for the respondent to be taken into custody by a police officer if the court believes that it is necessary for the respondent to be heard.

(3)To remove any doubt, it is declared that, if an application for a protection order is made by a police officer, the application may be served on the respondent before the application is filed in the court.

Note—

Section 153 provides that a police officer may file a document in a proceeding under this Act by electronic or computer-based means.

s 34 amd 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch 1; 2021 No. 23 s 8

35Copy of application must be given to aggrieved

(1)If the applicant for a protection order is not the aggrieved, the applicant must give a copy of the application to the aggrieved.

(2)Failure to comply with subsection (1) does not invalidate or otherwise affect an application for a protection order.

36Applicant may ask clerk of court for hearing before respondent is served or without giving verification declaration

(1)This section applies for the purpose of the court making a temporary protection order under division 2.

(2)The applicant for a protection order may ask the clerk of the court to arrange for the application to be heard by the court—

(a)before the application is served on the respondent; or

(b)before the application is served on the respondent and without the applicant giving the court a verification declaration.

(3)This section applies despite section 34.

s 36 sub 2021 No. 23 s 9

36A Court must be given respondent’s criminal history and domestic violence history

(1)This section applies if—

(a)a police officer makes an application for a protection order; or

(b)the clerk of the court gives an application for a protection order to the officer in charge of a police station under section 33(2)(b); or

(c)a copy of a police protection notice issued by a police officer is filed in the court to be heard as an application for a protection order.

(2)The police commissioner must ensure a copy of the respondent’s criminal history and domestic violence history—

(a)is filed in the court—

(i)with an application or police protection notice mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (c); or

(ii)before the date and time stated in the application for the first hearing of the application; or

(b)is given to the court when the application is first heard.

(3)If the respondent does not have a criminal history or domestic violence history, the police commissioner must ensure the court is informed of that fact.

s 36A ins 2023 No. 1 s 35

37When court may make protection order

(1)A court may make a protection order against a person (the respondent) for the benefit of another person (the aggrieved) if the court is satisfied that—

(a)a relevant relationship exists between the aggrieved and the respondent; and

(b)the respondent has committed domestic violence against the aggrieved; and

Note—

See the examples of the type of behaviour that constitutes domestic violence in sections 8, 11 and 12, which define the terms domestic violence, emotional or psychological abuse and economic abuse.

(c)the protection order is necessary or desirable to protect the aggrieved from domestic violence.

(2)In deciding whether a protection order is necessary or desirable to protect the aggrieved from domestic violence—

(a)the court must consider—

(i)the principles mentioned in section 4; and

(ii)if an intervention order has previously been made against the respondent and the respondent has failed to comply with the order—the respondent’s failure to comply with the order; and

(iii)the respondent’s criminal history and domestic violence history filed in or given to the court under section 36A; and

(b)if an intervention order has previously been made against the respondent and the respondent has complied with the order—the court may consider the respondent’s compliance with the order.

(3)However, the court must not refuse to make a protection order merely because the respondent has complied with an intervention order previously made against the respondent.

(4)If an application for a protection order names more than 1 respondent, the court may make a domestic violence order or domestic violence orders naming 1, some or all of the respondents, as the court considers appropriate.

(5)If the court decides to make a protection order against the respondent, the court must consider the appropriate period for which the order is to continue in force.

Note—

See section 97 for matters to be considered when deciding the period for which a protection order is to continue in force.

(6)This section applies subject to section 41G.

s 37 amd 2016 No. 51 s 4; 2023 No. 1 s 36; 2024 No. 5 s 27

38Hearing of application—appearance of respondent

(1)This section applies if a respondent appears before the court that is to hear and decide an application for a protection order.

(2)The court may—

(a)hear and decide the application; or

(b)adjourn the application, whether or not it makes a temporary protection order under division 2; or

(c)subject to subsection (3), dismiss the application without deciding it.

(3)The court may dismiss an application without deciding it only if—

(a)the applicant has not appeared; and

(b)if the applicant is a police officer—no other police officer or service legal officer has requested an adjournment; and

(c)no other person eligible to apply for the protection order has appeared.

(4)The dismissal of an application does not affect the right of the applicant to make a further application against the respondent.

39Hearing of application—non-appearance of respondent

(1)This section applies if a respondent fails to appear before the court that is to hear and decide an application for a protection order and the court is satisfied that the respondent has been served with a copy of the application.

Note—

If a respondent has been served with a police protection notice, because of section 112, the respondent is taken to have been served with a copy of an application for a protection order.

(2)The court may—

(a)hear and decide the application in the absence of the respondent; or

(b)adjourn the application, whether or not it makes a temporary protection order under division 2; or

(c)subject to section 156(1), order the issue of a warrant for the respondent to be taken into custody by a police officer and brought before the court.

40Hearing of application—before respondent is served

(1)This section applies if a court hears an application for a protection order before the application is served on the respondent.

(2)The court may adjourn the application, whether or not it makes a temporary protection order under division 2.

pt 3 div 1A hdg ins 2015 No. 34 s 5

41Definitions for division

In this division—

cross application see section 41A(1)(b), (2)(d)(ii) and (3)(c).

original application see section 41A(1)(a) and (2)(d)(i).

original protection order see section 41A(3)(a).

variation application see section 41A(3)(b).

s 41 sub 2015 No. 34 s 5

41AApplication of particular provisions

(1)Sections 41B to 41E apply if—

(a)an application (the original application) for a protection order has been made and is before a court; and

(b)a second application for a protection order (the cross application) has been made and is before the same court or another court; and

(c)a person named as a respondent in the original application is named as the aggrieved in the cross application; and

(d)the person named as the aggrieved in the original application is named as a respondent in the cross application.

(2)Also, sections 41B to 41E apply if—

(a)2 protection orders have been made by the same court or by different courts; and

(b)a person named as a respondent in one of the protection orders (the first protection order) is named as the aggrieved in the other protection order (the second protection order); and

(c)the person named as the aggrieved in the first protection order is named as a respondent in the second protection order; and

(d)both of the following applications have been made and are before a court—

(i)an application to vary the first protection order (also the original application);

(ii)an application to vary the second protection order (also the cross application) made after the original application.

(3)In addition, sections 41B to 41E apply if—

(a)a protection order (the original protection order) has been made; and

(b)an application for variation of the original protection order (the variation application) has been made and is before a court; and

(c)an application for a second protection order (also the cross application) has been made and is before a court; and

(d)a person named as a respondent in the original protection order is named as the aggrieved in the cross application; and

(e)the person named as the aggrieved in the original protection order is named as a respondent in the cross application.

(4)For subsection (3), it does not matter whether the variation application was made before or after the cross application.

s 41A ins 2015 No. 34 s 5

41BParties must disclose cross applications

(1)Each of the following persons must inform the court to which the original application or cross application was made about the other application—

(a)a person who is a party to a proceeding for the original application and is aware of the cross application;

(b)a person who is a party to a proceeding for the cross application and is aware of the original application.

(2)Also, each of the following persons must inform the court to which the variation application or cross application was made about the other application—

(a)a person who is a party to the variation application and is aware of the cross application;

(b)a person who is a party to the cross application and is aware of the variation application.

(3)In this section—

party includes an aggrieved.

s 41B ins 2015 No. 34 s 5

41CHearing of applications—cross applications before same court

(1)This section applies if—

(a)either—

(i)the original application and cross application are before the same court; or

(ii)the variation application and cross application are before the same court; and

(b)the court is aware of both applications.

(2)The court must—

(a)hear the applications together; and

(b)in hearing the applications, consider—

(i)the principle mentioned in section 4(2)(e); and

(ii)whether it is necessary to make arrangements for the safety, protection or wellbeing of the person most in need of protection in the relevant relationship that exists between the persons who are the aggrieveds and respondents to the applications.

Note—

See, for example, sections 150 and 151 for the power of the court to make orders in relation to a person giving evidence or being cross-examined as a protected witness.

(3)If the court decides to adjourn the hearing of either application or both applications, the court must consider whether to make a temporary protection order under division 2 in relation to each adjourned hearing.

s 41C ins 2015 No. 34 s 5

amd 2023 No. 1 s 37

41DHearing of applications—cross applications before different courts

(1)This section applies if—

(a)either—

(i)the original application and the cross application are before different courts; or

(ii)the variation application and the cross application are before different courts; and

(b)a court hearing either application is aware of both applications.

(2)The court must consider whether to, and may—

(a)hear the applications together; or

(b)order that the application before the court be dealt with by the other court.

(3)If the court hears the applications, the court must consider—

(a)the principle mentioned in section 4(2)(e); and

(b)whether it is necessary to make arrangements for the safety, protection or wellbeing of the person most in need of protection in the relevant relationship that exists between the persons who are the aggrieveds and respondents to the applications.

Note—

See, for example, sections 150 and 151 for the power of the court to make orders in relation to a person giving evidence or being cross-examined as a protected witness.

(4)If the court decides to adjourn the hearing of the application before it, the court must consider whether to make a temporary protection order under division 2 in relation to the adjourned hearing.

s 41D ins 2015 No. 34 s 5

amd 2023 No. 1 s 38

41EHearing of applications—unreasonable notice of cross application

(1)Subsection (2) applies if the cross application mentioned in section 41A(1)(b) is not served, within a reasonable period, on a respondent to the cross application who is also the aggrieved named in the original application.

(2)The court may hear the cross application before the original application or together with the original application only if the aggrieved named in the original application consents.

(3)Subsection (4) applies if the cross application mentioned in section 41A(2)(d)(ii) is not served, within a reasonable period, on a respondent to the cross application who is also the applicant for the original application.

(4)The court may hear the cross application before the original application or together with the original application only if the applicant for the original application consents.

(5)Subsection (6) applies if the cross application mentioned in section 41A(3)(c) is not served, within a reasonable period, on a respondent to the cross application who is also the applicant for the variation application.

(6)The court may hear the cross application before the variation application or together with the variation application only if the applicant for the variation application consents.

(7)If the consent mentioned in subsection (2), (4) or (6) is not given, the court must—

(a)adjourn the hearing of the cross application; and

(b)if the cross application has not been served on the respondent to the application mentioned in subsection (1), (3) or (5)—set a date by which the application is to be served.

(8)Subsection (9) applies if the variation application mentioned in section 41A(3)(b) is not served, within a reasonable period, on a respondent to the variation application who is also the aggrieved named in the cross application.

(9)The court may hear the variation application before the cross application or together with the cross application only if the aggrieved named in the cross application consents.

(10)If the consent mentioned in subsection (9) is not given, the court must—

(a)adjourn the hearing of the variation application; and

(b)if the variation application has not been served on the aggrieved named in the cross application—set a date by which the application is to be served.

(11)In this section—

reasonable period means—

(a)at least 1 business day before the day of the hearing of the original application or variation application; or

(b)within a longer period before the day of the hearing of the original application or variation application the court considers is reasonable in the circumstances.

s 41E ins 2015 No. 34 s 5

41FHearing of application—existing protection order

(1)Subsections (2) and (3) apply if—

(a)a protection order has been made by a court; and

(b)an application for another protection order has been made and is before the same court or another court; and

(c)a person named as a respondent in the protection order is named as the aggrieved in the application; and

(d)the person named as the aggrieved in the protection order is named as a respondent in the application.

(2)Each person who is a party to a proceeding for the application and is aware of the protection order must inform the court to which the application was made about the order.

(3)The court hearing the application must take into account the court records relating to the making of the protection order.

(4)Subsections (5) and (6) apply if—

(a)2 protection orders have been made by the same court or by different courts; and

(b)a person named as a respondent in one of the protection orders (the first protection order) is named as the aggrieved in the other protection order (the second protection order); and

(c)the person named as the aggrieved in the first protection order is named as a respondent in the second protection order; and

(d)an application to vary either of the protection orders has been made and is before a court.

(5)Each person who is a party to a proceeding for the application and is aware of either protection order must inform the court to which the application was made about the order.

(6)The court hearing the application must take into account the court records relating to the making of both protection orders.

(7)In this section—

party includes an aggrieved.

s 41F ins 2015 No. 34 s 5

41G Deciding cross applications

(1)This section applies to a court hearing the following applications together under section 41C, 41D or 41E—

(a)the original application and cross application;

(b)the variation application and cross application.

(2)The court must decide—

(a)which of the parties to the relevant relationship is the person most in need of protection in the relationship; and

(b)the application that makes, or varies, the protection order that is necessary or desirable to protect the person most in need of protection from domestic violence; and

(c)if the other application is an application for a protection order—to dismiss the other application; and

(d)if the other application is an application for the variation of a protection order—to vary the order by reducing its duration so that the order ends.

(3)Despite subsection (2), the court may make, or vary, a protection order under both applications if the court is satisfied that, in exceptional circumstances—

(a)there is clear evidence that each of the parties to the relevant relationship is in need of protection from the other party; and

(b)it is not possible to decide whether 1 party’s need for protection is greater than the other party’s need for protection.

(4)The relevant relationship mentioned in subsection (2) and (3) is the relevant relationship that exists between the persons who are the aggrieved and the respondent to—

(a)the original application and the cross application mentioned in section 41A(1); or

(b)the first protection order and second protection order mentioned in section 41A(2); or

(c)the original protection order and the cross application mentioned in section 41A(3).

s 41G ins 2023 No. 1 s 39

pt 3 div 1B hdg ins 2015 No. 34 s 5

42When court on its own initiative can make or vary order against offender

(1)This section applies if a court convicts a person (the offender) of a domestic violence offence.

(2)The court may, on its own initiative, make a protection order against the offender if the court is satisfied that, under section 37, a protection order could be made against the offender.

(3)Despite section 37(2)(a)(iii), in deciding whether to make a protection order under subsection (2), the court is not required to, but may, consider the offender’s criminal history and domestic violence history.

(4)If a domestic violence order is already in force against the offender, the court—

(a)must consider the order and whether, in the circumstances, the order needs to be varied, including, for example, by varying the date the order ends; and

(b)may, on its own initiative, vary the order.

(5)However, the court may not make a protection order under subsection (2) or vary a domestic violence order under subsection (4) unless the following persons have been given a reasonable opportunity to present evidence and to prepare and make submissions about the making or variation of the order—

(a)the offender;

(b)the prosecuting authority for the offence;

(c)if reasonably practicable, the person who is or would be named as the aggrieved in the order.

(6)A court exercising jurisdiction under this section—

(a)may make the protection order, or vary the domestic violence order, before the offender is discharged by the court or otherwise leaves the court; or

(b)may adjourn the matter of making the protection order, or varying the domestic violence order, to a later fixed time and day and may, in the meantime, make a temporary protection order under division 2.

(7)If the court adjourns the matter under subsection (6)(b), the court—

(a)must inform the offender that if the offender does not appear in court at the later time and day to which the matter has been adjourned—

(i)a protection order may be made, or a domestic violence order varied, in the offender’s absence; and

(ii)the court may issue a warrant for the respondent to be taken into custody by a police officer if the court believes that it is necessary for the respondent to be heard; and

(b)may issue any direction that it considers necessary.

(8)If the offender fails to appear at the later time and day to which the matter is adjourned, the court may—

(a)make a protection order against the offender, or vary a domestic violence order against the offender, in the offender’s absence; or

(b)adjourn the matter further and may, in the meantime, make a temporary protection order under division 2; or

(c)subject to section 156(1), order the issue of a warrant for the offender to be taken into custody by a police officer and brought before the court.

(9)Despite section 158, a proceeding to make or vary a protection order under this section must be held by the court in open court, other than when the court orders the court be closed.

(10)This section does not limit the power of the court to make any other order against the offender.

(11)To remove any doubt, it is declared that section 145 applies to a proceeding to make or vary a protection order under this section.

s 42 amd 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch 1; 2023 No. 1 s 40

43When Childrens Court can make or vary order against parent of a child

(1)This section applies if the Childrens Court is hearing a child protection proceeding.

(2)The court may make a protection order against a parent of a child for whom an order is sought in the child protection proceeding (the parent) if—

(a)the court is satisfied that, under section 37, a protection order could be made against the parent; and

(b)the person who would be named as the aggrieved in the protection order is also a parent of a child for whom an order is sought in the child protection proceeding.

(3)If a domestic violence order is already in force against a parent of a child for whom an order is sought in the child protection proceeding (also the parent), the court must consider the order and whether, in the circumstances, the order needs to be varied, including, for example—

(a)by varying the date the order ends; or

(b)to ensure the terms of the order are consistent with an order proposed to be made in the child protection proceeding.

(4)The court may make a protection order under subsection (2) or vary a domestic violence order under subsection (3) on its own initiative or on the application of a party to the child protection proceeding.

(5)However, the court may not make a protection order under subsection (2) or vary a domestic violence order under subsection (3) unless each party to the child protection proceeding has been given a reasonable opportunity to present evidence and to prepare and make submissions about the making or variation of the order.

(6)Despite section 37(2)(a)(iii), in deciding whether to make a protection order under subsection (2) or vary a domestic violence order under subsection (3), the court is not required to, but may, consider the parent’s criminal history and domestic violence history.

(7)A court exercising jurisdiction under this section—

(a)may make the protection order, or vary the domestic violence order, during the hearing of the child protection proceeding; or

(b)may adjourn the matter of making the protection order, or varying the domestic violence order, to a later fixed time and day and may, in the meantime, make a temporary protection order under division 2.

(8)If the court adjourns the matter under subsection (7)(b), the court—

(a)must inform the parent that if the parent does not appear in court at the later time and day to which the matter has been adjourned—

(i)a protection order may be made, or a domestic violence order varied, in the parent’s absence; and

(ii)the court may issue a warrant for the parent to be taken into custody by a police officer if the court believes that it is necessary for the parent to be heard; and

(b)may issue any direction that it considers necessary.

(9)If the parent fails to appear at the later time and day to which the matter is adjourned, the court may—

(a)make a protection order against the parent, or vary a domestic violence order against the parent, in the parent’s absence; or

(b)adjourn the matter further and may, in the meantime, make a temporary protection order under division 2; or

(c)subject to section 156(1), order the issue of a warrant for the parent to be taken into custody by a police officer and brought before the court.

(10)This section does not limit the power of the court to make any order under the Child Protection Act 1999.

(11)In this section—

party, to a child protection proceeding, means—

(a)a child for whom an order is sought in the proceeding; or

(b)a separate legal representative, if any, for a child mentioned in paragraph (a); or

(c)an applicant or respondent in the proceeding.

separate legal representative means a lawyer appointed under the Child Protection Act 1999, section 110.

s 43 amd 2023 No. 1 s 41

44When court may make temporary protection order

(1)A court may make a temporary protection order if—

(a)the court adjourns the hearing of an application for a protection order; or

(b)the court adjourns the hearing of an application for a variation of a domestic violence order; or

(c)the court adjourns a proceeding mentioned in section 42 or 43; or

(d)the applicant for a protection order has asked the clerk of the court under section 36 for the application to be heard by the court—

(i)before the application is served on the respondent; or

(ii)before the application is served on the respondent and without the applicant giving the court a verification declaration; or

(e)the applicant for the variation of a protection order has asked the clerk of the court under section 90 for the application to be heard by the court—

(i)before the application is served on the respondent; or

(ii)before the application is served on the respondent and without the applicant giving the court a variation declaration; or

(f)an application for a temporary protection order is made to the court by a police officer under part 4, division 4.

(2)For subsection (1)(a), if the application is a police protection notice taken to be an application for a protection order under section 112, it does not matter whether or not the nature of the protection order sought and the grounds on which the order is sought—

(a)are stated in the police protection notice; or

(b)are stated in a statement mentioned in section 111(3) that has been filed under that section; or

(c)have otherwise been made known to the court.

s 44 amd 2016 No. 51 s 5; 2021 No. 23 s 10

45Matters court must be satisfied of

(1)A court may make a temporary protection order against a respondent only if the court is satisfied that—

(a)a relevant relationship exists between the aggrieved and the respondent; and

(b)the respondent has committed domestic violence against the aggrieved.

(2)Subsection (1) does not apply if the court makes a temporary protection order under section 44(1)(b).

(3)In deciding whether to make a temporary protection order, the court may consider the respondent’s criminal history and domestic violence history if, in the court’s opinion, it is relevant to do so.

s 45 amd 2021 No. 23 s 11; 2023 No. 1 s 42

46Standard of evidence

A temporary protection order need only be supported by the evidence that the court considers sufficient and appropriate having regard to the temporary nature of the order.

47Temporary protection order when respondent has not been served

(1)This section applies if—

(a)a respondent has not been served with a copy of an application for a protection order or an application for a variation of a domestic violence order; and

(b)the respondent is not present in court.

(2)The court may make a temporary protection order against the respondent only if the court is satisfied that the making of a temporary protection order despite the respondent having not been served with the application is necessary or desirable to protect the aggrieved, or another person named in the application, from domestic violence.

(3)To remove any doubt, it is declared that this section applies in addition to section 45.

47A Temporary protection order when applicant unable to give declaration

(1)This section applies if—

(a)an applicant for a protection order has not given a court a verification declaration; or

(b)an applicant for a variation of a domestic violence order has not given a court a variation declaration.

(2)The court may make a temporary protection order against the respondent only if the applicant verifies, on oath or affirmation, that the application is true and correct.

(3)To remove any doubt, it is declared that this section applies in addition to section 45.

Note—

Under section 142A a Magistrates Court may enable a person to take an oath or make an affirmation by audio visual link or audio link.

s 47A ins 2021 No. 23 s 12

47B When court must consider making temporary protection order on adjournment

(1)This section applies to a proceeding for an application for a protection order.

Note—

Under section 112, a police protection notice is taken to be an application for a protection order.

(2)If the court adjourns the hearing of the application at the first mention for the proceeding, the court must consider whether to make a temporary protection order.

s 47B ins 2024 No. 5 s 29

48Temporary protection order in relation to application for variation

(1)This section applies if the court adjourns the hearing of an application for a variation of a domestic violence order (the first domestic violence order).

(2)The court may make a temporary protection order against a respondent only if the court is satisfied that the temporary protection order is necessary or desirable to protect any of the following persons from domestic violence or associated domestic violence, pending a decision on the application for the variation—

(a)the aggrieved;

(b)another person named in the first domestic violence order;

(c)if the application for the variation seeks to name another person in the first domestic violence order—the other person.

(3)If the court makes a temporary protection order under subsection (2), the first domestic violence order is suspended.

(4)The suspension starts when the respondent is served with a copy of the temporary protection order or when the temporary protection order otherwise becomes enforceable under section 177.

(5)The suspension ends, and the first domestic violence order is revived—

(a)when the court varies the first domestic violence order and the varied order takes effect under section 99; or

(b)when the court refuses to vary the first domestic violence order and the respondent is told about the refusal; or

(c)when the application for variation of the first domestic violence order is withdrawn and the respondent is told about the withdrawal.

(6)For subsection (5)(b) or (c), the respondent may be told about the refusal or withdrawal—

(a)if the respondent is present in court when the refusal or withdrawal happens—by the court; or

(b)otherwise—by a police officer.

(7)For subsection (6)(b), the respondent may be told by a police officer about the refusal or withdrawal in any way, including, for example, by telephone, email, SMS message, a social networking site or other electronic means.

(8)When the first domestic violence order is revived—

(a)it is enforceable against the respondent as if it had never been suspended; and

(b)despite anything in section 98, the temporary protection order made under subsection (2) ends.

s 48 sub 2013 No. 35 s 66

amd 2015 No. 34 s 6

49Temporary protection order in relation to particular adjourned applications

(1)This section applies if, under section 41E, the court adjourns the hearing of a cross application or a variation application.

(2)The court must consider making a temporary protection order in relation to the application.

(3)However, the court may make a temporary protection order only if satisfied the order is necessary or desirable to protect the aggrieved, or another person, named in the application pending a decision on the application.

(4)To remove any doubt, it is declared that this section—

(a)applies in addition to section 45; and

(b)does not affect the court’s power to make a temporary protection order under this division in relation to an original application or an application to vary an original protection order.

s 49 sub 2015 No. 34 s 7

50Form of temporary protection order

A court may make a temporary protection order against a respondent in the same terms as a protection order.

51Court may make or vary domestic violence order by consent

(1)If the parties to a proceeding for a domestic violence order, or a variation of a domestic violence order, consent to the making of the order, or do not oppose the making of the order, the court may make the order—

(a)if the court is satisfied that a relevant relationship exists between the aggrieved and the respondent; and

(b)without being satisfied as to any matter mentioned in—

(i)for a proceeding for a protection order—section 37(1)(b) or (c); or

(ii)for a proceeding for a temporary protection order—section 45(1)(b); and

(c)whether or not the respondent admits to any or all of the particulars of the application.

(2)However, if the respondent is a child the court may make the order only if the court is satisfied as to the matters mentioned in—

(a)for a proceeding for a protection order—section 37; or

(b)for a proceeding for a temporary protection order—section 45.

(3)Also, subject to subsection (4), if a police officer, or authorised person for the aggrieved, is acting on behalf of the aggrieved in the proceeding, the court may make the order only if the court is satisfied that the aggrieved consents to the making of the order.

(4)The consent of the aggrieved is not required under subsection (3) if—

(a)a police officer is acting on behalf of the aggrieved in the proceeding; and

(b)the aggrieved is not present in court and can not, after all reasonable enquiries, be contacted to give the consent; and

(c)the police officer reasonably believes that the order promotes the safety, protection and wellbeing of the aggrieved, any named person, and any child affected by the order.

(5)Before deciding whether to make or vary a domestic violence order under this section, the court may—

(a)conduct a hearing in relation to the particulars of the application if, in the court’s opinion, it is in the interests of justice to do so; and

(b)consider the respondent’s criminal history and domestic violence history if, in the court’s opinion, it is relevant to do so.

Note—

The police commissioner is required to ensure a copy of the respondent’s criminal history and domestic violence history is filed in or given to the court. See sections 36A and 90A.

(6)The court may refuse to make or vary a domestic violence order under this section if the court believes the making or variation of the order may pose a risk to the safety of an aggrieved, any named person, or any child affected by the order.

(7)To remove any doubt, it is declared that sections 54, 56 and 84 continue to apply in relation to a proceeding under this section.

s 51 amd 2023 No. 1 s 43

52Naming relative or associate of aggrieved

(1)The court may name, in a domestic violence order, a relative or associate of the aggrieved if the court is satisfied that naming the relative or associate in the order is necessary or desirable to protect the relative or associate from associated domestic violence.

(2)In this section—

relative, of an aggrieved, does not include a child mentioned in section 53.

53Naming child

The court may name, in a domestic violence order, a child of the aggrieved, or a child who usually lives with the aggrieved, if the court is satisfied that naming the child in the order is necessary or desirable to protect the child from—

(a)associated domestic violence; or

(b)being exposed to domestic violence committed by the respondent.

54When court must consider naming child

(1)This section applies—

(a)if a court is—

(i)hearing an application for a domestic violence order; or

(ii)hearing an application for a variation of a domestic violence order; or

(iii)deciding whether to make a domestic violence order under section 42 or 43; and

(b)the application mentioned in paragraph (a)(i) or (ii), or any other information before the court, discloses the existence of a child of the aggrieved, or a child who usually lives with the aggrieved.

(2)The court must consider whether the child should be named under section 53 in the domestic violence order.

(3)To remove any doubt, it is declared that this section applies whether or not the application mentioned in paragraph (a)(i) or (ii) seeks to name the child in the order.

55Power of court to obtain information about child

(1)This section applies if—

(a)there is an application for a protection order, or a variation of a domestic violence order, that seeks to name a child in the order or the court is considering naming a child in a protection order; and

(b)the respondent contests the naming of the child in the order or the imposition of any conditions concerning the child; and

(c)the court considers that the chief executive (child protection) may have information relating to the child, the aggrieved or the respondent that may help the court in deciding whether to name the child in the order or impose a condition relating to the child under division 5.

(2)The court may ask the chief executive (child protection) to provide information about the child, the aggrieved or the respondent that the chief executive reasonably considers may help the court in deciding whether to name the child in the order or impose a condition relating to the child under division 5.

(3)The chief executive (child protection) must comply with the request as quickly as possible.

(4)However, the chief executive is required only to provide information in the possession of the chief executive (child protection) or to which the chief executive (child protection) has access.

(5)If the chief executive (child protection) provides information under this section in a proceeding, the court must—

(a)give each party to the proceeding a copy of the information and a reasonable opportunity to prepare and make submissions about the information; and

(b)give a copy of any domestic violence order, or varied order, made in the proceeding to the chief executive (child protection).

(6)The court need not comply with subsection (5)(a) to the extent that giving a copy of the information to a party to the proceeding would place the aggrieved, or a child, at increased risk of domestic violence.

(7)This section does not limit section 154.

56Domestic violence order must include standard conditions

(1)A court making a domestic violence order must impose a condition that the respondent—

(a)must be of good behaviour towards the aggrieved and not commit domestic violence against the aggrieved; and

(b)if the order includes a named person who is an adult—

(i)must be of good behaviour towards the named person; and

(ii)must not commit associated domestic violence against the named person; and

(c)if the order includes a named person who is a child—

(i)must be of good behaviour towards the child; and

(ii)must not commit associated domestic violence against the child; and

(iii)must not expose the child to domestic violence.

(2)If the court does not exercise its power to impose conditions under subsection (1), the court is taken to have done so.

s 56 amd 2016 No. 51 s 6

57Court may impose other conditions

(1)A court making or varying a domestic violence order must consider whether imposing any other condition is necessary or desirable to protect—

(a)the aggrieved from domestic violence; or

(b)a named person from associated domestic violence; or

(c)a named person who is a child from being exposed to domestic violence.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), a court making a domestic violence order must consider whether to impose an ouster condition on the respondent in relation to the aggrieved’s usual place of residence.

(3)The principle of paramount importance to the court must be the principle that the safety, protection and wellbeing of people who fear or experience domestic violence, including children, are paramount.

s 57 amd 2015 No. 34 s 8; 2016 No. 51 s 7

58Conditions relating to behaviour of respondent

Without limiting section 57, the court may impose a condition on the respondent that—

(a)prohibits stated behaviour of the respondent that would constitute domestic violence against the aggrieved or associated domestic violence against a named person; or

(b)prohibits stated behaviour of the respondent that is likely to lead to domestic violence against the aggrieved or associated domestic violence against a named person; or

(c)prohibits the respondent from approaching, or attempting to approach, the aggrieved or a named person, including stating in the order a distance within which an approach is prohibited; or

(d)prohibits the respondent from contacting, attempting to contact or asking someone else to contact the aggrieved or a named person, including, for example, if the aggrieved or named person has taken shelter at a refuge; or

(e)prohibits the respondent from locating, attempting to locate or asking someone else to locate the aggrieved or a named person if the aggrieved’s or named person’s whereabouts are not known to the respondent; or

(f)prohibits stated behaviour of the respondent towards a child of the aggrieved, or a child who usually lives with the aggrieved, including prohibiting the respondent’s presence at or in a place associated with the child.

59Conditions relating to recovery of personal property

(1)Without limiting section 57, in relation to personal property of the aggrieved, the court may impose a condition on the respondent that requires the respondent—

(a)to return stated personal property to the aggrieved; or

(b)to allow the aggrieved access to stated personal property; or

(c)to allow the aggrieved to recover stated personal property; or

(d)to allow the aggrieved to enter stated premises to facilitate action mentioned in paragraph (b) or (c); or

(e)to do any act necessary or desirable to facilitate action mentioned in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d).

(2)If the court imposes a condition mentioned in subsection (1), the court must consider—

(a)the extent to which a matter relating to the condition must be supervised by a police officer; and

(b)the need to impose a condition that the respondent must not, during a stated period, approach within a stated distance of stated premises to facilitate action mentioned in subsection (1)(a), (b), (c) or (d).

60Contact by lawyer not prohibited

(1)A condition mentioned in section 58(d) or (e) that prohibits a respondent from asking someone else to contact or to locate an aggrieved or named person does not prohibit the respondent from asking—

(a)a lawyer to contact the aggrieved or named person; or

(b)another person, including a lawyer, to contact or locate the aggrieved or named person for a purpose authorised under an Act.

(2)In this section—

lawyer means a lawyer who is representing the respondent in relation to a proceeding.

61Contact by victim advocate not prohibited

(1)A condition mentioned in section 58(d) or (e) that prohibits a respondent from asking someone else to contact or to locate an aggrieved or named person does not prohibit a victim advocate from contacting or locating the aggrieved or named person if—

(a)either of the following applies—

(i)the purpose of the victim advocate in contacting or locating the aggrieved or named person is to seek the consent of the aggrieved or named person to the provision of advocacy or support to the aggrieved or named person;

(ii)the aggrieved or named person has consented to being contacted or located by a victim advocate; and

(b)the victim advocate is not knowingly in direct contact with the respondent; and

(c)the respondent is participating in an approved intervention program provided by an approved provider.

(2)In this section—

victim advocate means a person engaged by an approved provider to provide advocacy for, and support of, an aggrieved or named person.

62Condition limiting contact between parent and child

(1)This section applies if—

(a)the aggrieved, or an applicant on behalf of the aggrieved, has asked the court for a condition to be imposed on the respondent that would prevent or limit contact between the respondent and a child of the respondent; or

(b)the court, on its own initiative, is considering imposing a condition of a type mentioned in paragraph (a).

(2)If the court imposes the condition, the condition must limit contact between the respondent and the child only to the extent necessary for the child’s safety, protection and wellbeing.

Note—

In considering whether to impose the condition, under section 57(3), the principle of paramount importance to the court must be the principle that the safety, protection and wellbeing of people who fear or experience domestic violence, including children, are paramount.

s 62 amd 2015 No. 34 s 9

63Ouster condition

(1)Without limiting section 57, the court may impose a condition (an ouster condition) on the respondent that prohibits the respondent from doing all or any of the following in relation to stated premises—

(a)remaining at the premises;

(b)entering or attempting to enter the premises;

(c)approaching within a stated distance of the premises.

Notes—

If an ouster condition is imposed on a respondent who is a tenant, the aggrieved may be able to apply under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, section 245 for an order to be recognised as the tenant instead of the respondent, or under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, section 321 for an order terminating the tenancy.

Sections 139 and 140 allow particular applications made under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 to be made to a Magistrates Court, or removed to a Magistrates Court, if an application for a protection order or a variation of a domestic violence order has been made to the court.

(2)To remove any doubt, it is declared that the premises that may be stated in the ouster condition include—

(a)premises in which the respondent has a legal or equitable interest; and

(b)premises where the aggrieved and respondent live together or previously lived together; and

(c)premises where the aggrieved or a named person lives, works or frequents.

s 63 amd 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch

64Ouster condition relating to aggrieved’s usual place of residence

(1)In deciding whether to impose an ouster condition on the respondent in relation to the aggrieved’s usual place of residence, the court must consider, in addition to the matters mentioned in section 57, the following—

(a)whether the aggrieved and any child living with the aggrieved can continue to live safely in the residence if the ouster condition is not made;

(b)any views or wishes expressed by the aggrieved about imposing an ouster condition on the respondent in relation to the aggrieved’s usual place of residence;

(c)the desirability of preventing or minimising disruption to the aggrieved and any child living with the aggrieved, including by minimising disruption to their living arrangements and allowing them to continue, or return, to live in the residence;

(d)the importance of the aggrieved and any child living with the aggrieved being able to maintain social connections and support that may be disrupted or lost if they can not live in the residence;

(e)the need to ensure continuity and stability in the care of any child living with the aggrieved;

(f)the need to allow childcare arrangements, education, training and employment of the aggrieved and any child living with the aggrieved to continue without interruption;

(g)the particular accommodation needs of the aggrieved and any child who may be affected by the ouster condition;

(h)the particular accommodation needs of the respondent.

Examples of particular accommodation needs for paragraphs (g) and (h)—

•accommodation needs that relate to a disability or impairment

•accommodation needs that relate to the number, or age, of the children who require accommodation

(2)The fact that the aggrieved does not express any views or wishes about the condition mentioned in subsection (1)(b) does not of itself give rise to an inference that the aggrieved does not have views or wishes about the condition being imposed.

(3)The court must give reasons for imposing, or not imposing, the condition.

s 64 amd 2015 No. 34 s 10

65Return condition

(1)If the court imposes an ouster condition on a respondent, the court must consider imposing another condition (a return condition) allowing the respondent—

(a)if the respondent is no longer at the premises stated in the ouster condition—to return to the premises to recover stated personal property; or

(b)if the respondent is at the premises stated in the ouster condition—to remain at the premises to remove stated personal property.

(2)However, a return condition may not allow a respondent to recover or remove personal property that is required to meet the daily needs of any person who continues to live in the premises stated in the ouster condition.

Examples of personal property required to meet daily needs—

household furniture, kitchen appliances

(3)If the court imposes a return condition, and does not order that the matters relating to the condition be supervised by a police officer, the court must state in the domestic violence order—

(a)if the respondent is present in court when the order is made—

(i)the time at which, without contravening the order, the respondent may return to the premises and then must leave the premises; or

(ii)for how long the respondent may, without contravening the order, continue to remain at the premises; or

(b)if the respondent is not present in court when the order is made—

(i)the time at which, without contravening the order, the respondent may return to the premises and must leave the premises based on the time of service of the order on the respondent; or

(ii)for how long the respondent may, without contravening the order, remain at the premises based on the time of service of the order on the respondent.

Example of condition for paragraph (b)(i)—

The respondent may, without contravening the order, return to the premises at noon on the day after the day the order is served on the respondent by a police officer. If the respondent returns to the premises under the order, the respondent must leave the premises no later than 2p.m. on the same day.

(4)In deciding the time mentioned in subsection (3)(a)(i) or (b)(i), the court must have regard to any expressed wishes of the aggrieved.

66Supervision by police officer of ouster condition or return condition

Before imposing an ouster condition or return condition, the court must consider—

(a)the extent to which a matter relating to the condition must be supervised by a police officer; and

(b)if a police officer must supervise a matter, the need to impose a condition that the respondent must not approach within a stated distance of stated premises.

67Condition for protection of unborn child

(1)This section applies if an aggrieved is pregnant when a domestic violence order for the benefit of the aggrieved is made.

(2)The court may impose a condition that—

(a)takes effect when the child is born; and

(b)requires the respondent to be of good behaviour towards the child, not commit associated domestic violence against the child, and not expose the child to domestic violence.

(3)The court may impose the condition if the court is satisfied that the aggrieved is pregnant and the order is necessary or desirable to protect the child from associated domestic violence, or being exposed to domestic violence, once the child is born.

(4)To remove any doubt, it is declared that the court may impose the condition whether or not the respondent is the father of the child.

pt 3 div 6 hdg amd 2016 No. 51 s 8

68Definition for div 6

In this division—

counselling means counselling of a kind that may, in the court’s opinion, be beneficial in helping a respondent to overcome harmful behaviour related to domestic violence.

69Court may make intervention order

(1)If a court makes or varies a domestic violence order, the court may make an order (an intervention order), with the agreement of the respondent mentioned in section 71(b) and (c), that requires the respondent to attend either or both of the following—

(a)an approved intervention program provided by an approved provider;

(b)counselling provided by an approved provider.

(2)However, the court may make an intervention order only if the court is satisfied that an approved provider is available to provide the approved intervention program or the counselling at a location reasonably convenient to the respondent, having regard to where the respondent lives or works.

(3)The intervention order must require the respondent to—

(a)report to a stated approved provider at a stated place, and within a stated time, to allow the approved provider to assess the respondent’s suitability to participate in an approved intervention program or counselling; and

(b)if the approved provider gives a notice under section 72(3) confirming the respondent’s suitability—attend an approved intervention program or counselling provided by an approved provider; and

(c)comply with every reasonable direction given to the respondent by an approved provider.

s 69 amd 2016 No. 51 s 9

70Intervention order to be explained

Before making an intervention order, the court must explain, or cause to be explained, to the respondent—

(a)the purpose and effect of the order; and

(b)what may follow if the respondent contravenes the requirements of the order; and

Note—

Under sections 37(2)(a)(ii) and 91(3)(a), a contravention of an intervention order is relevant to the making of a protection order and the variation of a domestic violence order.

(c)that the order may be varied or revoked on application of the respondent or a police officer.

s 70 amd 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch 1

71Respondent to agree to making or amending of intervention order

The court may make or amend an intervention order only if the respondent—

(a)is present in court; and

(b)agrees to the order being made or amended; and

(c)agrees to comply with the order as made or amended.

s 71 amd 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch 1

72Assessment of suitability of respondent

(1)If a court makes an intervention order, the clerk of the court must give a copy of the order to the stated approved provider mentioned in section 69(3)(a).

(2)The approved provider must assess the respondent’s suitability to participate in an approved intervention program or counselling taking into consideration the following—

(a)the respondent’s character, personal history and language skills;

(b)any disabilities, psychiatric or psychological conditions, or alcohol or drug problems, of the respondent;

(c)the effect of the matters mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) on the respondent’s ability to participate in group counselling;

(d)any other relevant matters.

(3)If the approved provider considers that the respondent is suitable to participate in an approved intervention program or counselling, the approved provider must give the court a notice in the approved form stating—

(a)that the respondent is suitable to participate in the program or counselling; and

(b)the date when the respondent will start attending the program or counselling; and

(c)the name of the approved provider who will provide the program or counselling; and

(d)the estimated period of time within which the respondent is likely to complete the program or counselling.

(4)If the approved provider considers that the respondent is not suitable to participate in an approved intervention program or counselling, the approved provider must give the court, and the police commissioner, a notice in the approved form stating that the respondent is not suitable to participate in an approved intervention program or counselling.

s 72 amd 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch 1

73Contravention of intervention order

(1)If an approved provider becomes aware that a respondent has contravened an intervention order, the approved provider must give the court, and the police commissioner, a notice in the approved form stating—

(a)that the respondent has contravened the intervention order; and

(b)the nature of the contravention; and

(c)the date of the contravention.

(2)The approved provider must give the notice within 14 days after the approved provider becomes aware of the contravention.

(3)However, subsection (1) does not apply if the approved provider is satisfied that—

(a)the contravention is minor; and

(b)the respondent has taken steps to remedy the contravention or has otherwise substantially complied with the intervention order.

s 73 amd 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch 1

74Notice of completion

(1)If a respondent completes an approved intervention program or counselling, the approved provider must give the respondent, the court and the police commissioner a notice in the approved form stating—

(a)that the respondent has completed the program or counselling; and

(b)the date on which the respondent completed the program or counselling.

(2)The approved provider must give the notice within 14 days after the respondent completes the program or counselling.

75Approval of providers and intervention programs

(1)The chief executive may approve an entity as an approved provider if the chief executive is satisfied that the entity has appropriate experience and qualifications to provide an approved intervention program or counselling.

(2)The chief executive may approve a program as an approved intervention program if the chief executive is satisfied that—

(a)the program aims to—

(i)increase participants’ accountability for domestic violence; and

(ii)help participants to change their behaviour; and

(iii)increase the safety, protection and wellbeing of persons against whom domestic violence has been committed; and

(b)the program satisfies any other criteria prescribed under a regulation.

(3)An approval mentioned in subsection (1) or (2) must be in writing.

(4)The chief executive must—

(a)prepare, and keep up to date, a list of approved providers and approved intervention programs; and

(b)give a copy of the list to the Chief Magistrate.

77Applicant must disclose family law order

(1)This section applies to a person who—

(a)applies to a court for a domestic violence order or a variation of a domestic violence order; and

(b)is aware of a family law order.

(2)The person must—

(a)inform the court about the family law order; and

(b)if the person has a copy of the order, give a copy of the order to the court.

(3)Failure to comply with subsection (2) does not invalidate or otherwise affect an application for a domestic violence order or an application for a variation of a domestic violence order.

78Court must consider family law order

(1)Before deciding whether to make or vary a domestic violence order, the court must—

(a)have regard to any family law order of which the court has been informed; and

(b)if the family law order allows contact between a respondent and a child that may be restricted under the proposed domestic violence order or variation—consider whether to exercise its power, under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cwlth), section 68R or the Family Court Act 1997 (WA), section 176, to revive, vary, discharge or suspend the family law order.

(2)However, the court must not diminish the standard of protection given by a domestic violence order for the purpose of facilitating consistency with a family law order.

(3)If the court is considering whether to exercise its power as mentioned in subsection (1)(b), the court must give the parties to the proceeding a reasonable opportunity to present evidence and to prepare and make submissions about the exercise of the power.

(4)However, subsection (3) does not apply if the court is deciding whether to make a temporary protection order under section 47.

(5)Failure to comply with subsection (1) does not invalidate or otherwise affect a domestic violence order or a variation of a domestic violence order.

s 78 amd 2016 No. 51 s 11

Note—

See the Weapons Act, sections 27A, 28A, 29A, 29B and 34AA which provide for the impact on a person’s weapons licence, including the suspension or revocation of the licence, if the person is named as the respondent in a domestic violence order, police protection notice or release conditions.

pt 3 div 8 note sub 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch 1

79Definition for div 8

In this division—

possess, a weapon or thing, includes—

(a)have custody of it; and

(b)commit it to someone else’s custody but have control of it or a claim to its custody; and

(c)if someone else otherwise has custody of it—

(i)be able to obtain its custody at will; or

(ii)have control of it.

80Court must consider matters relating to weapons

(1)This section applies if—

(a)the respondent is present in court; or

(b)a police officer is the applicant for a domestic violence order, or otherwise appears in the proceeding before the court.

(2)Before making a domestic violence order, the court must ask about—

(a)whether the respondent has a weapons licence; and

(b)whether the respondent possesses a weapon; and

(c)whether the respondent has access to a weapon as part of the respondent’s employment; and

(d)whether the respondent has access to a weapon because the respondent is a person mentioned in the Weapons Act, section 2; and

(e)if paragraph (c) or (d) apply—

(i)the respondent’s employer, including the employer’s name and address; and

(ii)the employment or other arrangements relating to the respondent having access to a weapon.

(3)After asking about the matters mentioned in subsection (2), the court may include 1 or more of the following in the domestic violence order to the extent the court considers reasonable—

(a)information about any weapons licence of the respondent;

(b)information about any weapon the respondent possesses;

(c)information about any weapon to which the respondent has access because of the respondent’s employment;

(d)information about any weapon to which the respondent has access because the respondent is a person mentioned in the Weapons Act, section 2;

(e)a statement that when the domestic violence order is served on the respondent the Weapons Act applies to the respondent under section 83, despite the Weapons Act, section 2.

(4)Subsection (3) does not limit section 84 or 85.

(5)In this section—

employment, of a respondent, includes employment by a partnership in which the respondent is a partner.

81Condition relating to thing used as a weapon

(1)This section applies if a court is satisfied that a respondent—

(a)has used, or threatened to use, a thing in committing domestic violence against the aggrieved, or associated domestic violence against a named person; and

(b)is likely to use the thing again or carry out the threat.

Examples of things—

•an animal including a pet

•an antique firearm, crossbow or spear gun

•a cricket or baseball bat

(2)The court may, as a condition of the domestic violence order, prohibit the respondent from possessing the thing, or a thing of the same type, for the duration of the order.

(3)If the court makes an order under subsection (2), the thing is taken to be a weapon and may be dealt with under this Act and the Weapons Act as a weapon for which the respondent does not have a licence.

(4)This section does not limit section 57 or 63.

82Domestic violence order must include information about weapons

(1)The purpose of this section is to ensure that a police officer has as much information available as is possible when the police officer exercises a power under an Act to obtain or seize a weapon.

(2)In making a domestic violence order, the court must state as much information as it can about the weapons that the respondent possesses.

(3)In this section—

weapon includes a thing that a respondent is prohibited from possessing under section 81(2).

83No exemption under Weapons Act

(1)This section applies to each of the following—

(a)a person who is a police officer, special constable or trainee member of the Queensland police service, or any other member of the Queensland police service authorised by the police commissioner, as mentioned in the Weapons Act, section 2(1)(e);

(b)a person who is undergoing an approved training course, as mentioned in the Weapons Act, section 2(1)(g);

(c)a person who is actually engaged in the manufacture, assembly or handling of any weapon for or on behalf of the Government of the Commonwealth or any State or Territory, as mentioned in the Weapons Act, section 2(1)(h);

(d)a person who is engaged in scientific or experimental work with any weapon under an authority, as mentioned in the Weapons Act, section 2(1)(i);

(e)a person who is actually engaged in the warehousing or transport under consignment of merchandise, as mentioned in the Weapons Act, section 2(1)(l);

(f)a person to whom the police commissioner has granted an exemption from provisions of the Weapons Act, as mentioned in the Weapons Act, section 2(1)(m);

(g)a person who is an employee of a government service entity within the meaning of the Weapons Act, section 2(9), as mentioned in the Weapons Act, section 2(2).

(2)If the person is named as the respondent in a domestic violence order, police protection notice or release conditions, the Weapons Act applies to the person for the duration of the order, notice or conditions despite the Weapons Act, section 2.

(3)However, the respondent can not be convicted of an offence against the Weapons Act, because of the operation of subsection (2), unless the act or omission that constitutes the offence happens after the domestic violence order, police protection notice or release conditions are served on the respondent.

(4)Subsection (3) does not apply if—

(a)the respondent is present in court when the court makes the domestic violence order; or

(b)the respondent is present when a police officer issues the police protection notice and explains the notice.

s 83 amd 2016 No. 51 s 12

84Court to ensure respondent and aggrieved understand domestic violence order

(1)If a court is hearing an application for a domestic violence order, and the aggrieved or the respondent is personally before the court for the first time in relation to the application, the court must ensure that the aggrieved or respondent understands the nature, purpose and legal implications of the proceeding and of any order or ruling made by the court.

(2)If a court is about to make a domestic violence order, and the respondent is before the court, the court must ensure the respondent understands—

(a)the purpose, terms and effect of the proposed order, including, for example, that—

(i)the order may be enforceable in other States and New Zealand without further notice to the respondent; and

(ii)if the respondent has a weapons licence, or is a body’s representative as mentioned in the Weapons Act, section 10(3), the licence or endorsement as the body’s representative is dealt with by the Weapons Act, section 27A or 28A; and

(iii)under the Weapons Act, section 10B, a person against whom a protection order is made can not apply for a weapons licence for a period of 5 years from the date of the order; and

(iv)under section 83(2), a person against whom a domestic violence order is made is not exempt from the Weapons Act, despite the Weapons Act, section 2; and

(v)the consequences of a domestic violence order, as set out in subparagraphs (ii) to (iv), can only be avoided if the respondent successfully appeals the domestic violence order; and

(b)the type of behaviour that constitutes domestic violence; and

Note—

See the examples of the type of behaviour that constitutes domestic violence in sections 8, 11 and 12, which define the terms domestic violence, emotional or psychological abuse and economic abuse.

(c)what may follow if the respondent contravenes the proposed order; and

(d)that the respondent may apply for a variation of the order.

(3)If a court is about to make a domestic violence order, and the aggrieved is before the court, the court must ensure the aggrieved understands—

(a)the purpose, terms and effect of the proposed order, including, for example, that the order may be enforceable in other States and New Zealand; and

(b)the type of behaviour that constitutes domestic violence; and

Note—

See the examples of the type of behaviour that constitutes domestic violence in sections 8, 11 and 12, which define the terms domestic violence, emotional or psychological abuse and economic abuse.

(c)what the aggrieved may do, and what may follow, if the respondent contravenes the proposed order; and

(d)that the aggrieved may apply for a variation of the order.

(4)The process that the court adopts to comply with this section may include using services of, or help from, other people to the extent the court considers appropriate.

Examples of services or help the court may consider appropriate—

1The court may arrange for the clerk, or a public service employee at the court, to explain the order to an aggrieved or respondent.

2A professional interpreter or the telephone interpreter service (but not a relative or friend of the aggrieved or respondent) may be used to explain the order to an aggrieved or respondent.

3Explanatory notes prepared for aggrieveds or respondents, including non-English speakers, may be given to an aggrieved or respondent.

4The court may arrange with a local government indigenous regional council under the Local Government Act 2009, community justice group or group of elders for someone to explain the order to an aggrieved or respondent.

5The court may arrange with a non-government service provider for a disability case worker to explain the order to an aggrieved or respondent who has a disability.

(5)Failure to comply with this section does not invalidate or otherwise affect a domestic violence order.

s 84 amd 2016 No. 51 s 13

85Domestic violence order to include written explanation

(1)If a court makes a domestic violence order, the copy of the order served on the respondent, or given to the aggrieved, must include a written explanation of the order.

(2)The written explanation included in the copy served on the respondent must contain the information mentioned in section 84(2).

(3)The written explanation included in the copy given to the aggrieved must contain the information mentioned in section 84(3).

(4)A reference in subsection (1) or (2) to a copy of a domestic violence order served on the respondent includes a copy of a domestic violence order given to the respondent, or the respondent’s appointee, or sent to the respondent under section 184(4).

s 85 amd 2016 No. 51 s 14

86Application for variation

(1)An application for a variation of a domestic violence order may be made to a court by—

(a)the aggrieved; or

(b)the respondent; or

(c)a named person; or

(d)an authorised person for the aggrieved; or

(e)a person acting under another Act for a person mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c); or

(f)a police officer.

(2)The application must—

(a)be in the approved form; and

(b)state the grounds on which it is made; and

(c)state the nature of the variation sought; and

(d)if the applicant is not a police officer—be verified by the applicant by a statutory declaration (a variation declaration); and

(e)be filed in the court.

(3)However, subsection (2)(d) does not apply to an applicant if the clerk of the court agrees to grant the applicant’s request under section 90(2)(b).

(4)The variation sought may relate to any aspect of the domestic violence order including, for example, the following—

(a)a condition of the order;

(b)the duration of the order;

(c)the persons named in the order.

(5)However, a variation sought by a named person, or a person mentioned in subsection (1)(e) acting for a named person, may relate only to—

(a)the naming of the person in the order; or

(b)a condition of the order relating to the named person.

(6)An application for a variation of a domestic violence order may be made only while the domestic violence order is still in force.

s 86 amd 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch 1; 2021 No. 23 s 13

87Fixing of date, time and place for hearing

(1)If the applicant for the variation of the domestic violence order is a police officer, as soon as practicable after the application is prepared, the police officer must prepare a copy of the application that states the date, time and place for the hearing of the application.

(2)If the applicant for the variation of the domestic violence order is a person other than a police officer, as soon as practicable after the application is filed in the court, the clerk of the court must—

(a)write on a copy of the application the date, time and place for the hearing of the application; and

(b)give the copy of the application to—

(i)the applicant for the variation; and

(ii)the officer in charge of the police station nearest the place where the respondent lives or was last known to live.

88Service of application

(1)If the applicant for the variation of the domestic violence order is a person other than the respondent, a police officer must personally serve the copy of the application prepared under section 87(1) or (2)(a) on the respondent.

Note—

Under section 90 an applicant may ask the court for a hearing before the application is served on the respondent.

(2)The copy of the application must state that, if the respondent does not appear in court—

(a)the court may hear and decide the application in the respondent’s absence; or

(b)the court may issue a warrant for the respondent to be taken into custody by a police officer if the court believes that it is necessary for the respondent to be heard.

(3)If the applicant for the variation is the respondent, a police officer must personally serve the copy of the application prepared under section 87(1) or (2)(a) on—

(a)the aggrieved; and

(b)any named person who is affected by the application for the variation.

(4)To remove any doubt, it is declared that, if an application for a variation of a domestic violence order is made by a police officer, the application may be served on the respondent before the application is filed in the court.

Note—

Section 153 provides that a police officer may file a document in a proceeding under this Act by electronic or computer-based means.

s 88 amd 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch 1; 2021 No. 23 s 14

89Copy of application must be given to aggrieved

(1)If the applicant for the variation is a person other than the aggrieved or the respondent, the applicant must give a copy of the application to—

(a)the aggrieved; and

(b)any named person who is affected by the application for the variation; and

(c)if an authorised person for the aggrieved applied for the domestic violence order—the authorised person.

(2)Failure to comply with subsection (1) does not invalidate or otherwise affect an application for a variation of a domestic violence order.

90Particular applicants may ask clerk of court for hearing before respondent is served or without variation declaration

(1)This section applies—

(a)if the applicant for a variation of a domestic violence order is a person other than the respondent; and

(b)for the purpose of the court making a temporary protection order under division 2.

(2)The applicant may ask the clerk of the court to arrange for the application to be heard by the court—

(a)before the application is served on the respondent; or

(b)before the application is served on the respondent and without the applicant giving the court a variation declaration.

(3)This section applies despite section 88.

s 90 sub 2021 No. 23 s 15

90A Court must be given respondent’s criminal history and domestic violence history

(1)This section applies if—

(a)the applicant for the variation of a domestic violence order is a police officer; or

(b)the clerk of the court gives an application for the variation of a domestic violence order to the officer in charge of a police station under section 87(2)(b).

(2)The police commissioner must ensure a copy of the respondent’s criminal history and domestic violence history—

(a)is filed in the court—

(i)with an application mentioned in subsection (1)(a); or

(ii)before the date and time stated in the application for the first hearing of the application; or

(b)is given to the court when the application is first heard.

(3)If the respondent does not have a criminal history or domestic violence history, the police commissioner must ensure the court is informed of that fact.

s 90A ins 2023 No. 1 s 44

91When court can vary domestic violence order

(1)A court may vary a domestic violence order—

(a)on an application to vary it; or

(b)on its own initiative under section 42 or 43.

(2)Before it varies a domestic violence order, the court must consider—

(a)the grounds set out in the application for the protection order; and

(b)the findings of the court that made the domestic violence order.

(3)Also, before the court varies a domestic violence order—

(a)if an intervention order has previously been made against the respondent and the respondent has failed to comply with the order—the court must consider the respondent’s failure to comply with the order; or

(b)if an intervention order has previously been made against the respondent and the respondent has complied with the order—the court may consider the respondent’s compliance with the order; or

(c)the court may consider the respondent’s criminal history and domestic violence history if, in the court’s opinion, it is relevant to do so.

Note—

The police commissioner is required to ensure a copy of the respondent’s criminal history and domestic violence history is filed in or given to the court. See section 90A.

(4)However, the court must not decide to vary a domestic violence order merely because the respondent has complied with an intervention order previously made against the respondent.

(5)If the court varies a domestic violence order, the court must make a copy of the domestic violence order that states—

(a)the details of the domestic violence order after the variation; and

(b)the conditions of the domestic violence order after the variation.

(6)The copy of the domestic violence order prepared by the court under subsection (5) is called the varied order.

s 91 amd 2016 No. 51 s 15; 2023 No. 1 s 45

92Considerations of court when variation may adversely affect aggrieved or named person

(1)This section applies if the court considers that a variation proposed to be made to a domestic violence order may adversely affect the safety, protection or wellbeing of the aggrieved or any named person.

Examples of variations that may adversely affect the safety, protection or wellbeing of a person—

•a variation to reduce the duration of an order

•a variation to remove a condition of an order

•a variation to remove a named person from an order

(2)In considering whether to make the variation, the court must have regard to—

(a)any expressed wishes of the aggrieved or named person; and

(b)any current contact between the aggrieved or named person and the respondent; and

(c)whether any pressure has been applied, or threat has been made, to the aggrieved or named person by the respondent or someone else for the respondent; and

(d)the principle that the safety, protection and wellbeing of people who fear or experience domestic violence, including children, are paramount; and

(e)any other relevant matter.

(3)The court may vary the order only if the court considers—

(a)the safety, protection or wellbeing of the aggrieved or the named person would not be adversely affected by the variation; and

(b)if the variation is to reduce the duration of the order—there are reasons for doing so.

s 92 amd 2016 No. 51 s 16

93Hearing of application—appearance of respondent

(1)This section applies if a respondent appears before the court that is to hear and decide an application for a variation of a domestic violence order.

(2)The court may—

(a)hear and decide the application; or

(b)adjourn the application, whether or not it makes a temporary protection order under division 2; or

(c)subject to subsection (3), dismiss the application without deciding it.

(3)The court may dismiss the application without deciding it only if—

(a)the applicant for the variation is a person other than the respondent; and

(b)the applicant has not appeared; and

(c)if the applicant is a police officer—no other police officer or service legal officer has requested an adjournment; and

(d)no other person eligible to apply for the variation has appeared.

(4)The dismissal of an application does not affect the right of the applicant to make a further application against the respondent.

94Hearing of application—non-appearance of respondent

(1)This section applies if a respondent fails to appear before the court that is to hear and decide an application for a variation of a domestic violence order and the court is satisfied that the respondent has been served with a copy of the application.

(2)The court may—

(a)hear and decide the application in the absence of the respondent; or

(b)adjourn the application, whether or not it makes a temporary protection order under division 2; or

(c)subject to section 156(1), order the issue of a warrant for the respondent to be taken into custody by a police officer and brought before the court; or

(d)if the applicant is the respondent—dismiss the application without deciding it.

95Police commissioner to be given copy of application for variation

A court must not vary a domestic violence order unless it is satisfied that the police commissioner has been given a copy of the application for the variation.

Note—

Under section 146(2), a police officer or service legal officer may appear in any proceeding under this Act.

96Start of domestic violence order

A domestic violence order takes effect—

(a)on the day it is made; or

(b)if it is made while another domestic violence order against the respondent for the benefit of the same aggrieved is in force—at the end of the existing order or another day decided by the court.

97End of protection order

(1)A protection order continues in force until—

(a)the day stated by the court in the protection order; or

(b)if no day is stated, the day that is 5 years after the day the protection order is made.

(2)The court may order that a protection order continues in force—

(a)for any period the court considers is necessary or desirable to protect the aggrieved from domestic violence or a named person from associated domestic violence; but

(b)for a period of less than 5 years only if the court is satisfied there are reasons for doing so.

(3)In deciding the period for which a protection order is to continue in force, the principle of paramount importance to the court must be the principle that the safety, protection and wellbeing of people who fear or experience domestic violence, including children, are paramount.

(4)If the court orders that a protection order continues in force for a period of less than 5 years, the court must give reasons for making the order.

s 97 sub 2016 No. 51 s 17

98End of temporary protection order

A temporary protection order continues in force until—

(a)if, upon an application for a protection order related to the temporary protection order, the court makes a protection order and the respondent is in court when the protection order is made—when the protection order is made; or

(b)if, upon an application for a protection order related to the temporary protection order, the court makes a protection order and the respondent is not in court when the protection order is made, the earliest of the following—

(i)when the respondent is served with a copy of the protection order;

(ii)when the protection order otherwise becomes enforceable under section 177;

(iii)when the protection order ends; or

(c)if, upon an application for a protection order related to the temporary protection order, the court refuses to make a protection order—when the court refuses to make the protection order; or

(d)if an application for a protection order related to the temporary protection order is withdrawn—when the application is withdrawn; or

(e)otherwise—when any protection order related to the temporary protection order ends.

99When variation of domestic violence order takes effect

(1)If a court varies a domestic violence order, the varied order takes effect—

(a)if the respondent is present in court when the court varies the order—when the court varies the order; or

(b)if the respondent is not present in court when the court varies the order, on the earliest of the following—

(i)when the respondent is served with a copy of the varied order;

(ii)when the varied order otherwise becomes enforceable under section 177.

(2)Also, if a court varies a domestic violence order, the domestic violence order remains in force until the varied order takes effect under subsection (1).

100Police officer must investigate domestic violence

(1)If a police officer reasonably suspects that domestic violence has been committed, the police officer must investigate or cause to be investigated the complaint, report or circumstance on which the officer’s reasonable suspicion is based.

(2)If, after the investigation, the police officer reasonably believes domestic violence has been committed, the police officer must consider whether it is necessary or desirable—

(a)to take any action under subsection (3) to protect a person from further domestic violence; and

(b)for the person to be protected immediately from further domestic violence and, if so, what is the most effective action to take to immediately protect the person.

(3)The police officer may do any of the following—

(a)apply to a court for a protection order under part 3, division 1;

(b)apply to a court for a variation of a domestic violence order under part 3, division 10;

(c)issue a police protection notice under division 2;

Note—

Under section 112, a police protection notice is taken to be an application for a protection order.

(d)take the respondent into custody under division 3;

Note—

Under section 118, if a police officer takes a respondent into custody, the police officer must apply for a protection order against the respondent.

(e)apply to a magistrate for a temporary protection order under division 4;

(f)take any other action appropriate in the circumstances.

Example of other action—

taking a respondent to another place, including, for example, a hospital, to receive treatment necessary for the respondent’s welfare

(4)If, after the investigation, the police officer decides not to take any action, the police officer must make a written record of the police officer’s reasons for not taking any action.

(5)The police commissioner must keep the written record in hard copy or electronic form.

(6)This section does not limit the responsibility of the police officer to investigate whether a criminal offence has been committed.

s 100 amd 2016 No. 51 s 18

101Police officer may issue police protection notice

(1)A police officer may issue a notice (a police protection notice) against a person (the respondent) if the police officer—

(a)reasonably believes the respondent has committed domestic violence; and

(b)if the respondent is not present at the same location as the police officer—has made a reasonable attempt to locate and talk to the respondent, including by telephone, to afford the respondent natural justice in relation to the issuing of a police protection notice; and

(c)reasonably believes that no domestic violence order or recognised interstate order has been made or police protection notice issued that—

(i)names the respondent as a respondent and another person involved in the domestic violence mentioned in paragraph (a) as the aggrieved; or

(ii)names the respondent as the aggrieved and another person involved in the domestic violence mentioned in paragraph (a) as a respondent; and

(d)reasonably believes a police protection notice is necessary or desirable to protect the aggrieved from domestic violence; and

(e)reasonably believes the respondent should not be taken into custody under division 3.

(2)This section is subject to sections 102 and 103.

s 101 sub 2016 No. 51 s 19

amd 2016 No. 51 s 54

101AWhen police officer must issue police protection notice

(1)If a person has been taken into custody under division 3, the releasing police officer must issue a notice (also a police protection notice) against the person (also the respondent) if—

(a)it is not reasonably practicable, as mentioned in section 118(2), to bring the respondent before the court for the hearing of an application for a protection order while the respondent is still in lawful custody; and

(b)a temporary protection order has not been made under division 4 against the respondent; and

(c)section 125 does not apply.

(2)This section is subject to sections 102 and 103.

s 101A ins 2016 No. 51 s 19

101BNaming persons in police protection notice

(1)This section applies if a police officer issuing a police protection notice reasonably believes—

(a)naming a child of the aggrieved, or a child who usually lives with the aggrieved, in the notice is necessary or desirable to protect the child from—

(i)associated domestic violence; or

(ii)being exposed to domestic violence committed by the respondent; or

(b)naming another relative, or an associate, of the aggrieved in the notice is necessary or desirable to protect the relative or associate from associated domestic violence.

(2)The police officer may name the child, relative or associate (each a named person) in the police protection notice.

s 101B ins 2016 No. 51 s 19

102Approval of supervising police officer required

(1)Before issuing a police protection notice, the police officer must obtain the approval of a supervising police officer.

(2)However, if the police officer proposes to issue a police protection notice under section 101A, the supervising police officer—

(a)may give or refuse approval for—

(i)a person to be named in the notice; or

(ii)a condition to be imposed under section 106A; but

(b)may not otherwise refuse to give the approval to issue the notice.

(3)The supervising police officer must be a police officer—

(a)who the police commissioner has authorised to approve the issue of police protection notices; and

(b)who is not involved in investigating—

(i)for a notice being issued under section 101—the domestic violence mentioned in section 101(1)(a); or

(ii)for a notice being issued under section 101A —the domestic violence for which the respondent was taken into custody.

Note—

Section 106A(2)(d) also requires the supervising police officer to be of at least a particular rank if the police protection notice includes a condition under section 106A.

(4)The approval of the supervising police officer may be sought and given verbally, including, for example, in person, or by telephone, radio, internet or other similar facility.

(5)The police officer must make a written record of—

(a)the supervising police officer’s decision to give or refuse the approval; and

(b)the date and time of the decision; and

(c)the supervising police officer’s name, rank, registered number, if any, and station.

(6)If the supervising police officer decides to refuse the approval, the police officer must not seek approval from another police officer.

(7)The police commissioner must keep the written record mentioned in subsection (5) in hard copy or electronic form.

s 102 amd 2016 No. 51 s 20

103Cross-notice not permitted

(1)This section applies if a police officer issues a police protection notice (the first notice) that names a person (the first person) as a respondent and another person (the second person) as an aggrieved.

(2)Until the first notice stops having effect, a police officer can not issue a police protection notice that names the first person as an aggrieved and the second person as a respondent.

Note—

See section 113(3) for when a police protection notice stops having effect.

s 103 amd 2016 No. 51 s 21

104Contact details and address for service

(1)Subsection (2) applies in relation to a police protection notice—

(a)if the respondent is present when a police officer issues the notice—when the police officer issues the notice; or

(b)if a police officer talks to the respondent in relation to the issuing of the notice in the circumstances mentioned in section 101(1)(b)—when the police officer talks to the respondent; or

(c)otherwise—when a police officer personally serves the notice on the respondent.

(2)The police officer must ask the respondent to provide—

(a)the respondent’s contact details; and

(b)an address for service of documents.

(3)Without limiting subsection (2)(b), the address may be—

(a)the address of accommodation arranged under section 108; or

(b)the address of a friend or family member of the respondent.

(4)If the respondent provides an address under subsection (2)(b) other than an address where the respondent lives or works and another person living at the address advises the court that the person does not consent to the use of the address for the service of documents under this Act, the address is not a valid address for service of the documents.

(5)The respondent is not obliged to comply with a request under subsection (2).

(6)This section does not limit the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, section 40.

Note—

Under the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, section 40, a police officer may require a person to state the person’s correct name and address in particular circumstances.

s 104 amd 2016 No. 51 s 22

105Form of police protection notice

(1)A police protection notice issued by a police officer must—

(a)be in the form approved by the police commissioner; and

(b)state the police officer’s name, rank, registered number, if any, and station; and

(c)state the name, contact details, if any, and address for service, if any, of the respondent; and

(d)state the name of the aggrieved and any named person; and

(e)state the type of relevant relationship that the police officer reasonably believes exists between the respondent and the aggrieved; and

(f)state that the police officer is satisfied the grounds for issuing a police protection notice under section 101 or 101A have been met; and

(g)state the standard conditions mentioned in section 106; and

(h)state any condition imposed under section 106A, including, for a cool-down condition, the date and time when the condition ends; and

(i)advise the respondent that, under section 112, the notice is taken to be an application for a protection order made by a police officer; and

(j)state the date and time for the hearing of the application for the protection order at the local Magistrates Court for the respondent; and

(k)state that, if the respondent fails to appear before the court, the local Magistrates Court for the respondent may—

(i)make a domestic violence order against the respondent in the respondent’s absence; or

(ii)adjourn the matter and may, in the meantime, make a temporary protection order under part 3, division 2; or

(iii)order the issue of a warrant for the respondent to be taken into custody by a police officer and brought before the court; and

(l)if the date mentioned in paragraph (j) is more than 28 days after the day the notice is issued, advise the respondent that—

(i)the matter of the application for the protection order will be mentioned in another Magistrates Court within 28 days after the day the police protection notice is issued; and

(ii)the other Magistrates Court will notify the respondent of the date, time and place of the mention; and

(iii)the respondent may participate in the mention by attending the other Magistrates Court in person or by audio visual link or audio link; and

(iv)the other Magistrates Court may, under part 3, division 2, make a temporary protection order at the mention whether or not the respondent participates in the mention; and

(m)be signed by the police officer.

(2)For subsection (1)(j), the date must be—

(a)if the local Magistrates Court for the respondent sits at least once a week—within 5 business days after the notice is issued; or

(b)otherwise—the next sitting date of the local Magistrates Court for the respondent.

(3)A police protection notice may also state—

(a)the nature of the protection order sought by the application for a protection order mentioned in subsection (1)(i); and

(b)the grounds on which the order is sought.

s 105 amd 2016 No. 51 s 23

106Standard conditions

A police protection notice must include a condition that the respondent—

(a)must be of good behaviour towards the aggrieved and must not commit domestic violence against the aggrieved; and

(b)if the notice includes a named person who is an adult—

(i)must be of good behaviour towards the named person; and

(ii)must not commit associated domestic violence against the named person; and

(c)if the notice includes a named person who is a child—

(i)must be of good behaviour towards the child; and

(ii)must not commit associated domestic violence against the child; and

(iii)must not expose the child to domestic violence.

s 106 sub 2016 No. 51 s 24

106AOther conditions

(1)A police protection notice may include any or all of the following conditions—

(a)a cool-down condition;

(b)a no-contact condition;

(c)an ouster condition;

(d)if the notice includes an ouster condition—a return condition.

(2)The police officer issuing the police protection notice may impose a condition mentioned in subsection (1) if—

(a)the police officer reasonably believes the condition is necessary or desirable to—

(i)protect the aggrieved from domestic violence; or

(ii)protect a named person from associated domestic violence; or

(iii)protect a named person who is a child from being exposed to domestic violence committed by the respondent; and

(b)for an ouster condition in relation to the aggrieved’s usual place of residence—the police officer has considered the matters mentioned in section 64(1)(a) to (h) and (2); and

(c)for an ouster condition—the police officer has considered imposing a return condition; and

(d)the supervising police officer who approves, under section 102, the issuing of the notice including the condition is—

(i)for a cool-down condition—of at least the rank of sergeant; or

(ii)for an ouster condition or no-contact condition—of at least the rank of senior sergeant.

(3)To remove any doubt, it is declared that the premises that may be stated in a cool-down condition or ouster condition include—

(a)premises in which the respondent has a legal or equitable interest; and

(b)premises where the aggrieved and respondent live together or have previously lived together; and

(c)premises where the aggrieved or a named person lives, works or frequents.

s 106A ins 2016 No. 51 s 24

107Cool-down condition

(1)A cool-down condition is a condition that prohibits the respondent from doing any or all of the following—

(a)entering, attempting to enter, or remaining at, stated premises, or approaching within a stated distance of stated premises;

(b)approaching, or attempting to approach, within a stated distance of the aggrieved or a named person;

(c)contacting, attempting to contact, or asking someone else to contact, the aggrieved or a named person.

(2)A cool-down condition ends on the date and time stated in the notice.

(3)The date and time stated in the notice must be—

(a)no more than 24 hours after the notice is issued; and

(b)reasonable, having regard to the circumstances of the respondent, the aggrieved and any other person.

Example of an unreasonable date and time—

If a cool-down condition prohibits a respondent from approaching stated premises, it would be unreasonable for the condition to end at 3a.m., when the respondent’s return to the premises may disrupt other household members.

s 107 amd 2016 No. 51 s 25

107ANo-contact condition

(1)A no-contact condition is a condition that prohibits the respondent from doing any or all of the following—

(a)approaching, or attempting to approach, within a stated distance of the aggrieved or a named person;

(b)contacting, attempting to contact, or asking someone else to contact, the aggrieved or a named person;

(c)locating, attempting to locate, or asking someone else to locate, the aggrieved or a named person if the aggrieved’s or named person’s whereabouts are not known to the respondent.

(2)However, a no-contact condition does not prohibit the respondent from asking—

(a)a lawyer to contact the aggrieved or a named person; or

(b)another person, including a lawyer, to contact or locate the aggrieved or a named person for a purpose authorised under an Act.

(3)Also, a no-contact condition does not prohibit a victim advocate from contacting or locating the aggrieved or a named person in the circumstances mentioned in section 61(1)(a) to (c).

(4)In this section—

lawyer means a lawyer who is representing the respondent in relation to a proceeding.

victim advocate means a person engaged by an approved provider to provide advocacy for, and support of, an aggrieved or named person.

s 107A ins 2016 No. 51 s 26

107BOuster condition

An ouster condition is a condition that prohibits the respondent from doing any or all of the following in relation to stated premises—

(a)entering, attempting to enter, or remaining at, the premises;

(b)approaching within a stated distance of the premises.

s 107B ins 2016 No. 51 s 26

107CReturn condition

(1)A return condition is a condition—

(a)included in a police protection notice that also includes an ouster condition; and

(b)that allows the respondent, under the supervision of a police officer—

(i)if the respondent is no longer at the premises stated in the ouster condition—to return to the premises to recover stated personal property; or

(ii)if the respondent is at the premises stated in the ouster condition—to remain at the premises to remove stated personal property.

(2)However, a return condition may not allow the respondent to recover or remove personal property required to meet the daily needs of any person who continues to live in the premises stated in the ouster condition.

Examples of personal property required to meet daily needs—

household furniture, kitchen appliances

(3)A return condition may state either of the following, based on the time of service of the police protection notice on the respondent—

(a)the time at which, without contravening the police protection notice, the respondent may return to the premises and must leave the premises;

(b)for how long the respondent may, without contravening the police protection notice, remain at the premises.

s 107C ins 2016 No. 51 s 26

107DRelationship between police protection notice and family law order

(1)If a police officer issuing a police protection notice is considering imposing a condition that would prevent or limit contact between the respondent and a child of the respondent, the police officer must ask the respondent and the aggrieved—

(a)whether a family law order that allows contact between the respondent and the child is in effect; and

(b)if the answer to the question in paragraph (a) is yes—to provide details of the terms of the order that allow contact between the respondent and the child.

(2)If the police officer knows, or reasonably believes, the condition being considered is inconsistent with a family law order, the police officer—

(a)must not impose the condition; and

(b)must consider whether, in the circumstances, it is necessary or desirable to apply to a magistrate, under division 4, for a temporary protection order that prevents or limits contact between the respondent and a child in a way that is inconsistent with the family law order.

(3)If a condition included in a police protection notice is inconsistent with a family law order—

(a)the condition is of no effect to the extent of the inconsistency; and

(b)the inconsistency does not invalidate or otherwise affect the police protection notice.

s 107D ins 2016 No. 51 s 26

108Police officer must consider accommodation needs

(1)This section applies if—

(a)a police protection notice includes a cool-down condition or ouster condition; and

(b)a police officer serves the notice on the respondent or tells the respondent about the notice as mentioned in section 113(1)(b).

(2)The police officer must—

(a)consider the accommodation needs of the respondent; and

(b)take any reasonable steps necessary to ensure the respondent has access to temporary accommodation.

Examples of reasonable steps—

•making, or arranging, telephone enquiries to identify temporary accommodation

•transporting the respondent a short distance to suitable temporary accommodation, for example, a motel or the residence of a family member or friend

(3)If the police officer reasonably believes the respondent is a child, the police officer must—

(a)arrange temporary accommodation for the respondent; and

(b)transport, or arrange for the transport of, the respondent to the accommodation.

(4)To remove any doubt, it is declared that—

(a)the requirement under subsection (2)(b) does not include an obligation for the police officer or the Queensland police service to transport, or arrange for the transport of, the respondent to the accommodation; and

(b)the requirement under subsection (2)(b) or (3) does not include an obligation for the police officer or the Queensland police service to provide accommodation to the respondent free of charge.

s 108 amd 2016 No. 51 s 27

109Service of notice on respondent

(1)A police officer must personally serve a police protection notice on the respondent.

(2)However, a police protection notice can not be served on a respondent after an event mentioned in section 113(3)(a), (b), (c) or (d) has happened.

(3)To remove any doubt, it is declared that this section applies even if the police protection notice has taken effect under section 113(1)(b).

s 109 sub 2016 No. 51 s 28

109AGiving copy of notice to aggrieved

(1)A police officer must give a copy of a police protection notice to the aggrieved and each named person.

(2)A police officer is not required to comply with subsection (1) if the police officer reasonably believes—

(a)the named person is a child; and

(b)a copy of the police protection notice has already been given to a parent of the child because the parent is an aggrieved or named person.

(3)Failure to comply with subsection (1) does not invalidate or otherwise affect the notice.

s 109A ins 2016 No. 51 s 28

110Explanation

(1)This section applies if a police officer—

(a)serves a police protection notice on a respondent; or

(b)tells a respondent about a police protection notice as mentioned in section 113(1)(b); or

(c)gives a copy of a police protection notice to an aggrieved; or

(d)gives a copy of a police protection notice to a parent of a child, as required under section 188.

(2)The police officer must—

(a)explain to the person—

(i)the police protection notice; and

(ii)the grounds on which the police officer who issued the notice reasonably believed that domestic violence has been committed; and

(iii)the reasons the police officer who issued the notice imposed the conditions of the notice; and

(b)take reasonable steps to ensure the person understands the nature and consequences of the notice.

(3)Without limiting subsection (2), the police officer must explain—

(a)the purpose and effect of the notice, including, for example, that—

(i)the notice may be enforceable in other States and New Zealand without further notice to the respondent; and

(ii)if the respondent has a weapons licence, or is a body’s representative as mentioned in the Weapons Act, section 10(3), the licence or endorsement as the body’s representative is dealt with by the Weapons Act, section 27A or 28A; and

(iii)under section 83(2), a person against whom a police protection notice is issued is not exempt from the Weapons Act, despite the Weapons Act, section 2; and

(b)the duration of the notice; and

(c)the conditions of the notice, including the behaviour the respondent is prohibited from engaging in under the conditions; and

(d)the type of behaviour that constitutes domestic violence; and

Note—

See the examples of the type of behaviour that constitutes domestic violence in sections 8, 11 and 12, which define the terms domestic violence, emotional or psychological abuse and economic abuse.

(e)the consequences of the respondent contravening the notice; and

(f)that the aggrieved cannot consent to the respondent contravening the notice; and

(g)that the notice is taken to be an application for a protection order made by a police officer; and

(h)that the hearing of the application for the protection order will be heard at the local Magistrates Court for the respondent at the date and time stated in the notice; and

(i)the right of the respondent or aggrieved to obtain legal advice before attending court; and

(j)any other matter prescribed under a regulation.

(4)Failure to comply with this section does not invalidate or otherwise affect a police protection notice.

s 110 amd 2016 No. 51 ss 29, 55

111Filing

(1)If a police officer issues a police protection notice, a copy of the notice must be filed in the local Magistrates Court for the respondent.

(2)Subsection (3) applies if the police protection notice does not state—

(a)the nature of the protection order sought by the application for a protection order; and

(b)the grounds on which the order is sought.

(3)A statement about the matters mentioned in subsection (2)(a) and (b) must be filed in the local Magistrates Court for the respondent before the earlier of the following—

(a)the date and time stated in the police protection notice for the hearing of the application for the protection order;

(b)the day that is 14 days after the day the notice was issued.

Note—

Section 153 provides that a police officer may file a document in a proceeding under this Act by electronic or computer-based means.

(4)The statement must be—

(a)made and signed by the police officer who issued the police protection notice; and

(b)served on the respondent—

(i)if the police protection notice has been personally served on the respondent and an address for service for the respondent is known—in any way; or

(ii)otherwise—personally by a police officer.

(5)Subsection (3) does not limit—

(a)the way in which the court may be informed, or inform itself, about the matters mentioned in subsection (2)(a) and (b); or

(b)the documents or evidence a party may file or give in the proceeding.

(6)If the local Magistrates Court for the respondent will not be sitting within 28 days after the day the notice is issued, the clerk of the local Magistrates Court for the respondent must make arrangements with the clerk of another Magistrates Court that will be sitting within 28 days after the day the notice is issued for—

(a)the matter of the application for the protection order to be listed for mention in the other Magistrates Court at the earliest opportunity; and

(b)the respondent, and the police officer or service legal officer responsible for the matter, to be notified of the date, time and place of the mention.

(7)The reference in subsection (2)(a) to the application for a protection order is a reference to the application for a protection order the police protection notice is taken to be under section 112.

(8)To remove any doubt, it is declared that subsection (1) applies whether or not the police protection notice has been served on the respondent.

s 111 amd 2016 No. 51 s 30

112Police protection notice taken to be application for protection order

(1)A police protection notice is taken to be an application for a protection order made by a police officer.

(2)This section does not apply if—

(a)the police protection notice was issued against the respondent under section 101A when the respondent was released from custody; and

(b)a police officer prepared an application for a protection order against the respondent while the respondent was in custody as required under section 118.

s 112 amd 2016 No. 51 s 31

113Duration

(1)A police protection notice takes effect when—

(a)the notice is served on the respondent personally or in a way stated in a substituted service order; or

(b)a police officer tells the respondent about the existence of the notice and the conditions of the notice.

(2)For subsection (1)(b), the respondent may be told by a police officer about the existence of the police protection notice in any way, including, for example, by telephone, email, SMS message, a social networking site or other electronic means.

(3)A police protection notice continues in force until—

(a)if, on an application for a temporary protection order made under section 129(2), a magistrate decides to make a temporary protection order—the temporary protection order is served on the respondent or otherwise becomes enforceable under section 177; or

(b)if, upon the hearing of the application for a protection order, the court decides to make a domestic violence order—the domestic violence order is served on the respondent or otherwise becomes enforceable under section 177; or

(c)if the court adjourns the application for a protection order and does not make a domestic violence order or an order to extend the police protection notice under subsection (4)—the proceeding is adjourned; or

Note—

See section 47B for when the court must consider whether to make a temporary protection order.

(d)if the court dismisses the application for a protection order—the application is dismissed.

(4)For subsection (3)(c), in exceptional circumstances a court may adjourn the application for a protection order and make an order to extend the police protection notice—

(a)for not more than 5 business days; or

(b)if the court is not sitting in the next 5 business days—until the next anticipated sitting date for the court.

(5)An order to extend the police protection notice under subsection (4) may be made without appearances by the parties to the application for the protection order.

(6)A police protection notice may be extended only once under subsection (4).

(7)The court must take reasonable steps to notify the police commissioner and the parties to the application for the protection order of any extension to the police protection notice.

(8)A failure to comply with subsection (7) does not invalidate or otherwise affect the extension of the police protection notice.

(9)If the court makes an order to extend the police protection notice, section 47B applies at the first mention for the proceeding that occurs after the making of the order.

(10)In this section, a reference to the application for a protection order is a reference to—

(a)the application for a protection order a police protection notice is taken to be under section 112; or

(b)if a police protection notice was issued against the respondent under section 101A when the respondent was released from custody—the application for a protection order against the respondent prepared while the respondent was in custody as required under section 118.

(11)In this section—

exceptional circumstances means unforeseen circumstances that cause the operation of the court to be significantly reduced.

Examples—

natural disaster, severe weather event, major public health event

s 113 sub 2016 No. 51 s 32

amd 2023 No. 1 s 46; 2024 No. 5 s 30

114Existing domestic violence order

(1)This section applies if—

(a)a police officer issues a police protection notice; and

(b)there is an existing domestic violence order in place between the respondent and aggrieved.

(2)To remove any doubt, it is declared that—

(a)the respondent must comply with the police protection notice and the domestic violence order; and

(b)if it is not possible to comply with both, the domestic violence order prevails.

115Definition for div 3

In this division—

detention period see section 119(3).

116Police officer may take person into custody

A police officer may take a person into custody if, while conducting an investigation under section 100, the police officer reasonably suspects that the person has committed domestic violence and—

(a)another person is in danger of personal injury by the person; or

(b)property is in danger of being damaged by the person.

Note—

The Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, section 615 provides that it is lawful for a police officer exercising or attempting to exercise a power under an Act to use reasonably necessary force to exercise the power.

s 116 amd 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch 1

117Person must be taken to holding cell or watch-house

A person taken into custody under section 116 must, as soon as reasonably practicable—

(a)be taken by a police officer to a holding cell at a police station or police establishment and delivered into the custody of the most senior officer on duty at the station or establishment; or

(b)be taken by a police officer to a watch-house and delivered into the custody of the watch-house manager.

Note—

See section 126 for safeguards that apply if a person taken into custody under section 116 is a child.

s 117 amd 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch 1

118Police officer must apply for protection order

(1)A police officer must, as soon as reasonably practicable after a person is taken into custody under section 116, prepare an application for a protection order in which the person is named as the respondent.

(2)If it is reasonably practicable to bring the person before a court for the hearing of the application for the protection order while the person is still in lawful custody, a police officer must arrange for the person to be brought before the court for the hearing of the application.

(3)If it is not reasonably practicable for the person to be brought before the court for the hearing of the application for the protection order while the person is still in lawful custody, the application for the protection order must state the date and time that the respondent is required to attend the local Magistrates Court for the respondent for the hearing of the application for the protection order.

(4)For subsection (3), the date must be—

(a)if the local Magistrates Court for the respondent sits at least once a week—within 5 business days after the person is taken into custody under section 116; or

(b)otherwise—the next sitting date of the local Magistrates Court for the respondent.

Note—

See section 129(2) for when a police officer must apply for a temporary protection order.

119Detention period limited

(1)The person may be held in custody until the later of the following—

(a)if it is reasonably practicable to bring the person before a court for the hearing of the application for the protection order while the person is still in lawful custody—

(i)if the court decides to make a domestic violence order—when the domestic violence order is made and a police officer is able to comply with section 124(1)(b); or

(ii)if the court adjourns the application for the protection order and does not make a domestic violence order—when the proceeding is adjourned; or

(iii)if the court dismisses the application for the protection order—when the application is dismissed;

(b)if it is not reasonably practicable to bring the person before a court for the hearing of the application for the protection order while the person is still in lawful custody—when the application for the protection order is prepared and a police officer is able to comply with section 124(1)(d) or (e);

(c)if a police officer obtains a temporary protection order under division 4 while the person is still in lawful custody—when the temporary protection order is made and a police officer is able to comply with section 124(1)(c).

(2)In addition, if an order is made under subsection (1)(a)(i) or (c), or an application is prepared under subsection (1)(b), the person may be held in custody until the later of the following—

(a)if a police officer reasonably believes it is necessary to make arrangements for the safety of the aggrieved or a child—when arrangements are made for the safety of the aggrieved or the child;

(b)if a police officer reasonably believes the person is intoxicated to an extent that the person is incapable of understanding the nature and effect of a document that must be given to the person under section 124—when the police officer reasonably believes the person is capable of understanding the nature and effect of the document;

(c)if a police officer reasonably believes the person’s behaviour is so aggressive or threatening that it presents a continuing danger of personal injury or property damage—when the police officer reasonably believes the person’s behaviour no longer presents a continuing danger of personal injury or property damage.

(3)However, the person must not be held in custody for more than the following period (the detention period)—

(a)if the person is being held in custody under subsection (2)(b)—8 hours from when the person is first taken into custody under section 116;

(b)otherwise—4 hours from when the person is first taken into custody under section 116.

s 119 amd 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch 1

120Person not to be questioned about offence

A police officer must not question a person held in custody under this division about the person’s involvement in the commission of an offence or suspected offence.

121Police officer may apply for extension of detention period

(1)If section 119(3)(b) applies to a person held in custody under this division, a police officer may apply for an order extending the detention period for the person.

(2)The application must be made—

(a)to a magistrate; and

(b)before the detention period for the person ends.

(3)The application must be made in a way that gives the person or the person’s lawyer a reasonable opportunity to prepare and make submissions about the application.

Example—

If the application is faxed to a magistrate, the person may speak to the magistrate by telephone.

(4)Before the application is made, the police officer must—

(a)tell the person or the person’s lawyer of the application; and

(b)give the person a copy of the application; and

(c)ask the person or the person’s lawyer if he or she—

(i)agrees to the application or wants to oppose it; and

(ii)wants to make submissions or say anything to the magistrate hearing the application.

(5)The application must state the following—

(a)the police officer’s name, rank, registered number, if any, and station;

(b)the following information about the person—

(i)the person’s name, age and address;

(ii)whether the person is a child;

(iii)whether the person is an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander;

(iv)whether the person is a person with impaired capacity;

(v)if the person is a child—whether a parent of the child has been advised of the child’s detention;

(c)why further detention of the person is necessary.

(6)The police officer must tell the magistrate—

(a)whether or not the person or the person’s lawyer wants to make submissions or say anything to the magistrate; and

(b)whether there is any factor, including, for example, the intoxication of the person, that may affect the person’s ability to communicate with the magistrate.

(7)The application may be made by phone, fax, radio, email or another similar facility if—

(a)the application is made outside of normal business hours; or

(b)the police officer considers it necessary because of other special circumstances, including, for example, the police officer’s remote location.

(8)An application made in a way mentioned in subsection (7) is taken to be made only when it is brought to the attention of the magistrate.

Example—

If a police officer faxes an application to a magistrate, the application is made only when the magistrate reads the fax or the police officer speaks to the magistrate by telephone to tell the magistrate the fax has been sent.

(9)The magistrate must make a record in writing of the application.

(10)The person, or the person’s lawyer, may make submissions to the magistrate about the application, but not submissions that unduly delay the consideration of the application.

(11)To remove any doubt, it is declared that the application may be made at the same time as any other application under this Act, including, for example, an application for a temporary protection order.

122When detention period may be extended

(1)A magistrate may extend the detention period for a person if satisfied—

(a)the nature and seriousness of the alleged domestic violence require the extension; and

(b)further detention of the person is necessary—

(i)to make arrangements for the safety of the aggrieved or a child as mentioned in section 119(2)(a); or

(ii)to allow a police officer to form a reasonable belief under section 119(2)(c) that the person’s behaviour no longer presents a continuing danger of personal injury or property damage; and

(c)the person, or the person’s lawyer, has been given a reasonable opportunity to prepare and make submissions about the application.

(2)An order extending the detention period may authorise the further detention of the person for a reasonable period, of not more than 4 hours, stated in the order.

123Extended detention period limited to 8 hours

If an application for the extension of a detention period is made before the detention period ends, the detention of the person ends at the earlier of the following—

(a)when the magistrate refuses the application for the extension of the detention period;

(b)the time stated in an order extending the detention period;

(c)8 hours from when the person is first taken into custody under section 116.

124Release of person from custody

(1)When a person taken into custody under section 116 is released from custody, a police officer must—

(a)in relation to the application for the protection order prepared under section 118(1)—serve a copy of the application on the person in compliance with section 34; and

(b)if a domestic violence order is made by a court under part 3, division 1 or 2—serve a copy of the order on the person in compliance with section 184; and

(c)if a temporary protection order is made by a magistrate under section 131—serve a copy of the order on the person in compliance with section 133(1)(a); and

(d)if a police protection notice is issued under section 101A—personally serve the notice on the person and explain the notice to the person in compliance with sections 109 and 110; and

(e)if release conditions are imposed under section 125—personally serve a copy of the release conditions on the person.

(2)However, subsection (1) and sections 101A, 118 and 125 do not apply if—

(a)the person is named as a respondent in a domestic violence order made, or police protection notice issued, before the person was taken into custody; and

(b)the person named as the aggrieved in the order or notice is also another person involved in the domestic violence for which the person was taken into custody.

s 124 amd 2016 No. 51 s 33

125When police officer must release person on conditions

(1)This section applies if—

(a)it is not reasonably practicable, as mentioned in section 118(2), to bring a person before the court for the hearing of the application for a protection order; and

(b)a police officer has not obtained a temporary protection order under division 4 naming the person as a respondent; and

(c)the releasing police officer reasonably believes a domestic violence order has been made, or a police protection notice has been issued, that names the person as the aggrieved and another person involved in the domestic violence for which the person was taken into custody as a respondent.

(2)The releasing police officer must release the person (the respondent) from custody on the conditions (the release conditions) that the releasing police officer considers are necessary or desirable to—

(a)protect the aggrieved from domestic violence; or

(b)protect a named person from associated domestic violence; or

(c)protect a named person who is a child from being exposed to domestic violence committed by the respondent.

(3)Without limiting subsection (2), release conditions—

(a)must include the standard conditions for a police protection notice stated in section 106; and

(b)may include any or all of the following—

(i)a no-contact condition;

(ii)an ouster condition;

(iii)if the release conditions include an ouster condition—a return condition;

(iv)another condition the releasing police officer considers is necessary or desirable in the circumstances.

(4)Sections 101B, 102, 106, 106A (other than to the extent that section refers to cool-down conditions) and 107D apply for releasing the respondent on release conditions as though a reference in the section to a police protection notice issued under section 101A was a reference to release conditions imposed under this section.

(5)The release conditions continue in force until—

(a)if, on an application for a temporary protection order made under section 129(2), a magistrate decides to make a temporary protection order—the temporary protection order is served on the respondent or otherwise becomes enforceable under section 177; or

(b)if, upon the hearing of the application for the protection order, the court decides to make a domestic violence order—the domestic violence order is served on the respondent or otherwise becomes enforceable under section 177; or

(c)if the court adjourns the application for the protection order and does not make a domestic violence order—the proceeding is adjourned; or

(d)if the court dismisses the application for the protection order—the application is dismissed.

s 125 sub 2016 No. 51 s 34

126Particular safeguards for detention of child

(1)This section applies—

(a)if a person taken into custody under section 116 is a child; and

(b)despite any other provision of this Act.

(2)The child must be taken into custody only as a last resort and for the least time that is justified in the circumstances.

(3)The child must be held in custody only in a way that allows the child to be held separately from any adults being held in custody at the same place.

(4)A police officer must notify the following persons that the child has been taken into custody—

(a)a parent of the child, unless a parent can not be found after making all reasonable enquiries;

(b)if the chief executive (child safety) has custody or guardianship of the child under the Child Protection Act 1999, that chief executive or a person, nominated by that chief executive for the purpose, who holds an office in the department for which that chief executive has responsibility.

(5)This section does not apply in relation to a child if a police officer believes on reasonable grounds that the child is an adult.

(6)In deciding whether the police officer had the reasonable grounds mentioned in subsection (5), a court may have regard to the child’s apparent age and the circumstances of the child’s detention.

(7)In this section—

chief executive (child safety) means the chief executive of the department in which the Child Protection Act 1999 is administered.

parent, of a child, includes someone who is apparently a parent of the child.

127When person may be taken to place for treatment

(1)A police officer may take a person who is in custody under this division, during the detention period or any extension of the detention period obtained under section 122, to another place at which the respondent may receive treatment necessary for the respondent’s welfare.

Examples of another place—

hospital, medical practice

(2)However, if a police officer reasonably believes that treatment necessary for the respondent’s welfare will not be completed within the detention period or any extension of the detention period obtained under section 122—

(a)the police officer must take the person to a place where the respondent can receive the necessary treatment and release the person from custody at that place; and

(b)sections 101A, 118, 124 and 125 do not apply.

(3)Subsection (2) does not affect the power of a police officer to take any other action under this Act.

s 127 amd 2016 No. 51 s 35

128When intoxicated person may be taken to place of safety

(1)This section applies if—

(a)a person is taken into custody under section 116; and

(b)at any time during the detention period, or any extension of the detention period obtained under section 122, a police officer reasonably believes—

(i)the person is intoxicated; and

(ii)it is more appropriate for the person to be taken to a place of safety at which the person can receive the care necessary to enable the person to recover safely from the effects of intoxication.

(2)The police officer must take the person to a place of safety and release the person from custody at that place.

(3)Subsection (2) does not apply if the police officer is satisfied—

(a)a person at the place of safety is unable to provide care for the person; or

(b)the person’s behaviour may pose a risk of harm, including, but not limited to, domestic violence or associated domestic violence, to other persons at the place of safety.

(4)Before the police officer releases the person, the police officer must ensure the person apparently in possession or in charge of the place of safety gives a police officer a signed undertaking in the approved form to provide care for the person.

(5)A person taken to a place of safety can not be compelled to stay there.

(6)If the place of safety is not the person’s home, the person apparently in possession or in charge of the place of safety may lawfully provide care for the person until the person voluntarily leaves the place.

(7)If a person is, under this section, released from custody at a place of safety, sections 101A, 118, 124 and 125 do not apply.

(8)This section does not affect the power of a police officer to take any other action under this Act.

(9)In this section—

place of safety means a place, other than a holding cell at a police station or police establishment or a watch-house, that a police officer considers is a place at which a person can receive the care necessary to enable the person to recover safely from the effects of being intoxicated.

Examples of a place of safety—

•a place other than a hospital that provides care for persons who are drunk

•a vehicle used to transport persons to a place of safety and under the control of someone other than a police officer

•the person’s home, or the home of a relative or friend, if there is no likelihood of domestic violence or associated domestic violence happening at the place or the person is not subject to a domestic violence order preventing the person from entering or remaining at the place

s 128 amd 2016 No. 51 s 36

129When police officer may apply for temporary protection order

(1)A police officer may apply for a temporary protection order against a person if—

(a)an application for a protection order against the person has been prepared; and

(b)the police officer reasonably believes that the application for the protection order will not be decided sufficiently quickly by a court to protect the aggrieved from domestic violence; and

Examples of why an application may not be decided sufficiently quickly—

•the remoteness of a court

•the limited availability of a court

•the whereabouts of the respondent is unknown

(c)the police officer reasonably believes that a temporary protection order is necessary or desirable to protect the aggrieved from domestic violence.

(2)A police officer must apply for a temporary protection order against a person taken into custody under division 3 if—

(a)an application for a protection order against the person has been prepared as required under section 118(1); and

(b)it is not reasonably practicable, as mentioned in section 118(2), to bring the person before the court for the hearing of the application while the respondent is still in lawful custody; and

(c)the date for the hearing of the application for the protection order, as stated on the copy of the application prepared under section 118(1), is more than 5 business days after the day the person is to be released.

s 129 amd 2016 No. 51 s 37

130Making of application

(1)An application for a temporary protection order must be made to a magistrate.

(2)The application may be made by way of telephone, fax, radio, email or other similar facility.

(3)The police officer making the application must inform the magistrate of the particulars of the application for the protection order mentioned in section 129(1)(a) or (2)(a).

(4)The magistrate is entitled to presume that—

(a)the person making the application for the temporary protection order is a police officer; and

(b)an application for a protection order has been prepared, as required under section 129(1)(a) or (2)(a).

(5)The magistrate must make a record in writing of the application.

s 130 amd 2016 No. 51 s 38

131When magistrate may make temporary protection order

(1)A magistrate to whom an application for a temporary protection order is made may make the order only if the magistrate is satisfied that—

(a)the order may be made under part 3, division 2; and

(b)for an application mentioned in section 129(1)—the application for the protection order will not be decided sufficiently quickly by a court to protect the aggrieved from domestic violence; and

(c)for an application mentioned in section 129(2)—the date for the hearing of the application for the protection order is more than 5 business days after the day the person is released.

(2)If the magistrate makes the temporary protection order, the magistrate must—

(a)make a record in writing of the terms of the order and the grounds that caused the magistrate to be satisfied of the matters mentioned in subsection (1); and

(b)inform the applicant, by way of telephone, fax, radio, email or other similar facility, of the terms of the order; and

(c)as soon as practicable, give the written record of the application and the terms of the order to the clerk of the Magistrates Court that will hear the application for the protection order that relates to the temporary protection order.

(3)If the magistrate refuses to make the temporary protection order, the magistrate must—

(a)make a record in writing of the reasons for the refusal; and

(b)inform the applicant, by way of telephone, fax, radio, email or other similar facility, of the refusal; and

(c)as soon as is practicable, give the written record of the application and the written reasons for the refusal to the clerk of the Magistrates Court that will hear the application for the protection order.

132Form of temporary protection order

(1)A police officer who obtains a temporary protection order under section 131 must—

(a)prepare a copy of the order in the approved form; and

(b)file the copy in the court.

Note—

Section 153 provides that a police officer may file a document in a proceeding under this Act by electronic or computer-based means.

(2)The copy must state the following—

(a)the name of the magistrate who made the order;

(b)the date and time the order was made;

(c)the date, time and place at which the matter is to come before a court for a hearing of the application for the protection order.

(3)The date mentioned in subsection (2)(c) must be—

(a)within 28 days after the day the temporary protection order is made; or

(b)if no suitable hearing day is available within 28 days after the day the temporary protection order is made—the first suitable hearing day available.

(4)The clerk of the court in which the copy of the order is filed must give the copy to the magistrate who made the order.

(5)The magistrate must review the copy of the order and, if satisfied that the copy is accurate, sign the order.

s 132 amd 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch 1

133Service

(1)A police officer must—

(a)personally serve the copy of the temporary protection order prepared under section 132(1)(a) on the respondent, together with a copy of the application for the protection order; and

Note—

See section 34 (Service of application) for the obligation to serve on the respondent a copy of the application for the protection order.

(b)give a copy of the order to the aggrieved, together with a copy of the application for the protection order.

Note—

See section 35 (Copy of application must be given to aggrieved) for the obligation to give to the aggrieved the copy of the application for the protection order.

(2)However, a police officer need not serve on the respondent, or give to the aggrieved, a copy of the application for the protection order if the police officer reasonably believes that a copy of the application has already been served or given.

pt 4 div 5 hdg amd 2016 No. 51 s 39

134Application of division

This division applies if—

(a)a police officer reasonably suspects a person is named as a respondent in—

(i)an application for a protection order that has not been served on the person; or

(ii)a domestic violence order that has not been served on the person; or

(iii)a police protection notice that has been issued but not served on the person; or

(b)a police officer intends to issue a police protection notice against a person.

s 134 sub 2016 No. 51 s 40

134APower to give direction

(1)The police officer may give the person a direction under subsection (2), (4) or (6)(b) to enable the police officer to—

(a)if the police officer has a copy of the application—serve the person with the application; or

(b)if the police officer has a copy of the order—serve the person with the order; or

(c)if the police officer does not have a copy of the order—arrange for the person to be told about the existence of the order and the conditions imposed by the order; or

(d)if the police officer has a copy of the issued police protection notice—serve the person with the notice and explain the notice to the person; or

(e)if the police officer does not have a copy of the issued police protection notice—arrange for the person to be told about the existence of the notice and the conditions imposed by the notice; or

(f)if the police officer intends to issue a police protection notice to the person—issue the notice against the person, serve the person with the notice and explain the notice to the person.

(2)The police officer may direct the person to remain at an appropriate place in the person’s current location.

(3)Subsection (4) applies if, in the police officer’s opinion, it is contrary to the interests of the person or another person for the person to remain at the person’s current location while the police officer does a thing mentioned in subsection (1).

(4)The police officer may direct the person to move to another stated location and remain at an appropriate place at the other location.

Examples of locations a police officer may direct a person to move to—

•a police station or police beat

•a courthouse

•the premises of a community organisation that provides support services to respondents

(5)Subsection (6) applies if the police officer gives a direction under subsection (4) and the person is to be transported by a police officer to the other location.

(6)Before the person is transported to the other location, the police officer may—

(a)search the person for anything in the person’s possession that may be used to cause harm to the person or another person; and

Note—

See the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, chapter 20, part 3 for safeguards that apply to a search under this paragraph.

(b)if, during the search, the police officer finds a thing mentioned in paragraph (a)—direct the person to leave the thing at the person’s current location before being transported to the other location; and

(c)if, during the search, the police officer finds a thing the officer reasonably suspects is evidence of the commission of an offence—seize the thing.

(7)A thing seized under subsection (6)(c) is, for the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, section 622, taken to have been seized under that Act.

Note—

See also the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, chapter 21, part 3.

(8)In giving a direction under subsection (2), (4) or (6)(b), the police officer must tell the person the following—

(a)why the person is being given the direction;

(b)if the direction includes a direction to move to another location—

(i)where the other location is; and

(ii)how the person is to move to the other location, including that a police officer will remain in the presence of the person; and

(iii)that the person may be searched before moving to the other location; and

(iv)that the person may be directed to leave, at the person’s current location, anything found in the search that may be used to cause harm to the person or another person; and

(v)that anything found in the search may be seized if the officer reasonably suspects the thing may be evidence of the commission of an offence;

(c)the place, at the person’s current location or the other location, where the person is to remain;

(d)how long the person may be required to remain at the place;

(e)that the person is not under arrest or in custody while complying with the direction.

(9)The police officer giving the direction must also make reasonable efforts to tell the aggrieved the matters mentioned in subsection (8).

(10)Failure to comply with subsection (9) does not invalidate or otherwise affect the direction.

s 134A ins 2016 No. 51 s 40

amd 2020 No. 7 s 16

134BLimits on direction

(1)The time for which the person may be directed to remain at the appropriate place is—

(a)1 hour; or

(b)a longer time, not more than 2 hours, that is reasonably necessary having regard to the particular circumstances.

(2)The location to which the person may be directed to move must be within a reasonable distance of the person’s current location, having regard to the particular circumstances.

s 134B ins 2016 No. 51 s 40

134COffence warning

(1)The police officer giving the direction must warn the person—

(a)it is an offence not to comply with the direction unless the person has a reasonable excuse; and

(b)the person may be arrested for the offence.

(2)The police officer must give the person a reasonable opportunity to comply with the direction.

(3)If the person fails to comply with the direction, a police officer must, if practicable—

(a)repeat the warning mentioned in subsection (1); and

(b)give the person a further reasonable opportunity to comply with the direction.

s 134C ins 2016 No. 51 s 40

134DPerson not to be questioned about offence

A police officer must not question the person about the person’s involvement in the commission of an offence or suspected offence while the person, under the direction—

(a)moves to another location; or

(b)remains at a place.

s 134D ins 2016 No. 51 s 40

134EResponsibilities of police officer in relation to direction

(1)The police officer giving the direction must do a thing mentioned in section 134A(1)(a) to (f) without unreasonable delay after giving the direction.

(2)Without limiting section 134A(1)(c) or (e), the police officer may arrange for the person to be told about the existence of the order or police protection notice, and the conditions imposed by the order or notice, by—

(a)arranging for a copy of the order or notice to be sent electronically to the police officer so the police officer can read the conditions of the order or notice to the person; or

(b)arranging for another police officer to read the conditions of the order or notice to the person over a radio, telephone or other communication device.

(3)A police officer must remain in the presence of the person while the person, under the direction—

(a)moves to another location; or

(b)remains at a place.

s 134E ins 2016 No. 51 s 40

134FOffence to contravene direction

(1)The person must comply with the direction unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.

(2)A person does not commit an offence against subsection (1) if—

(a)the person is not proved to be named as a respondent in an application for a protection order, or a domestic violence order or police protection notice, that has not been served on the person; or

(b)the warning mentioned in section 134C(1) is not proved to have been given to the person.

s 134F ins 2016 No. 51 s 40

pt 4 div 6 hdg ins 2016 No. 51 s 41

135Acting in aid of police powers

If this Act confers authority on a police officer, the authority is taken to be conferred to the same extent on every other police officer who at the material time is acting in aid of that officer.

136Conferral of jurisdiction

(1)A court has jurisdiction—

(a)to hear and decide any application made to the court under this Act; and

(b)to perform any other function or exercise any other power conferred on the court under this Act.

(2)Despite any other law or rule of court, a Magistrates Court in any district may hear and decide a proceeding that has been started in a Magistrates Court in any other district.

137Constitution of Magistrates Court

(1)A Magistrates Court exercising jurisdiction under this Act must be constituted by a magistrate.

(2)However, a Magistrates Court constituted by 2 or more justices may deal with the following applications—

(a)an application to make or vary a temporary protection order if a magistrate is not readily available to constitute a Magistrates Court;

(b)an application to adjourn a proceeding taken with a view to the making of a domestic violence order against a respondent.

(3)Subsection (2) has effect despite the Justices of the Peace and Commissioners for Declarations Act 1991, section 29(3) or (4).

(4)Subsection (5) applies if an offender appears in relation to a domestic violence offence at a place at which a Magistrates Court is being held before 2 or more justices appointed under section 552C(3) of the Criminal Code for the place and pleads guilty to the offence.

(5)Despite subsection (1), the Magistrates Court, constituted by the justices exercising jurisdiction under section 552C(3) of the Criminal Code, may deal with an application for a domestic violence order, or make a domestic violence order on its own initiative, relating to the offence and for which the offender is the respondent.

s 137 amd 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch 1

138Concurrent criminal proceeding

(1)An application under this Act may be made, and a court may deal with the application, even if a person concerned in the application has been charged with an offence arising out of conduct on which the application is based.

(2)However, if a person is charged with an offence arising out of conduct on which an application under this Act is based, a reference to any of the following is admissible in the trial of the person for the offence only with the leave of the court—

(a)the existence of the application;

(b)the existence of any proceeding relating to the application;

(c)the making of, or refusal to make, any order relating to the application;

(d)the making of, or refusal to make, any variation of any order relating to the application;

(e)the fact that evidence of a particular nature or content was given in any proceeding relating to the application.

(3)To remove any doubt, it is declared that, subject to this section, an application, proceeding or order under this Act in relation to the conduct of a person does not affect—

(a)any proceeding for an offence against the person arising out of the same conduct; or

(b)any civil liability of the person.

(4)The person may be punished for the offence mentioned in subsection (3)(a) despite any order made against the person under this Act.

139Tenancy application may be made in Magistrates Court

(1)This section applies if a person makes an application for a protection order, or a variation of a domestic violence order, to a Magistrates Court.

(2)The person may make an application to the Magistrates Court, instead of to QCAT, for an order under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, sections 245, 321 or 323.

s 139 amd 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch 1

140Tenancy application may be removed to Magistrates Court

(1)This section applies if—

(a)an application for a protection order, or a variation of a domestic violence order, is made to a Magistrates Court; and

(b)the aggrieved or respondent makes an application (a tenancy application) to QCAT for an order under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, sections 245, 321 or 323.

(2)The Magistrates Court may, on application of either the aggrieved or respondent and if the court considers it appropriate, order that the tenancy application be removed to the Magistrates Court.

141Procedures applicable to tenancy applications before Magistrates Court

(1)The Magistrates Court has jurisdiction—

(a)to hear and decide an application mentioned in section 139(2) or 140(2); and

(b)to perform any other function or exercise any other power conferred on QCAT, for a tenancy application, under the QCAT Act or the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008.

(2)If a tenancy application is dealt with by a Magistrates Court under this section, the procedures applicable to the application are the procedures under the QCAT Act.

(3)However, a Magistrates Court hearing a tenancy application under this section must not be open to the public unless the court orders otherwise.

(4)Subsection (2) is subject to the Magistrates Court giving directions, before, or at any time during, the hearing of the tenancy application, about the way in which the court may exercise the powers of QCAT for a tenancy application or the service of documents for the tenancy application.

(5)An aggrieved or respondent who makes a tenancy application must give written notice to the lessor of—

(a)the tenancy application; and

(b)any application to remove the tenancy application to the Magistrates Court; and

(c)any adjournment of an application mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b).

(6)An order of the Magistrates Court about the tenancy application is taken to have been made under the QCAT Act for the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008.

(7)In this section—

tenancy application means an application for an order under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, sections 245, 321 or 323.

142Procedure for proceeding under this Act

(1)The Domestic and Family Violence Protection Rules made under the Magistrates Courts Act 1921, section 57C apply for—

(a)a proceeding in a court under this Act; or

(b)the registry of a court in relation to a proceeding under this Act.

(2)The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999 apply to an appeal under this Act.

(3)To remove any doubt, it is declared that the Childrens Court Rules 1997 and the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999 do not apply to a proceeding in a court under this Act.

s 142 sub 2013 No. 35 s 67

142AUse of audio visual links or audio links—Magistrates Court

(1)This section applies in relation to a proceeding under the Act before a Magistrates Court.

(2)The Magistrates Court may conduct all or part of the proceeding by the use of audio visual links or audio links.

(3)Without limiting subsection (2), the Magistrates Court may enable a person to do any of the following things by audio visual link or audio link—

(a)appear before the Magistrates Court;

(b)give evidence or make a submission to the Magistrates Court;

(c)take an oath or make an affirmation.

(4)If all or part of a proceeding is conducted by the use of audio visual links or audio links, a person who appears before the Magistrates Court for the proceeding is taken to be present before the Magistrates Court.

(5)In this section—

Magistrates Court means—

(a)if an application is made to a Magistrates Court—the Magistrates Court; or

(b)if an application is made to a magistrate—the magistrate.

s 142A ins 2021 No. 23 s 16

143Application of usual laws where necessary

To remove any doubt, it is declared that—

(a)for a proceeding under this Act before a Magistrates Court or magistrate—the provisions of the Justices Act 1886 apply to the proceeding unless the application of that Act is inconsistent with this Act; and

(b)for a proceeding under this Act in the Childrens Court—

(i)the provisions of the Justices Act 1886 apply to the proceeding unless the application of that Act is inconsistent with this Act or the Childrens Court Act 1992; and

(ii)the provisions of the Childrens Court Act 1992 apply to the proceeding unless the application of that Act is inconsistent with this Act.

144Directions

(1)This section applies to the extent that any matter relating to procedure is not provided for by the rules applying under section 142 or the provisions applying under section 143.

(2)The court may issue directions in relation to a particular proceeding before the court.

145Evidence

(1)In a proceeding under this Act, a court—

(a)is not bound by the rules of evidence, or any practices or procedures applying to courts of record; and

(b)may inform itself in any way it considers appropriate.

(2)Despite subsection (1), the Evidence Act 1977, part 2, division 2A applies to a proceeding under this Act.

(3)If the court is to be satisfied of a matter, the court need only be satisfied of the matter on the balance of probabilities.

(4)To remove any doubt, it is declared that the court need not have the personal evidence of the aggrieved before making a domestic violence order.

s 145 amd 2017 No. 8 s 101 sch 1

146Right of appearance and representation

(1)A party to a proceeding under this Act may appear in person or be represented by a lawyer.

(2)A police officer or service legal officer may appear in any proceeding under this Act.

(3)In this section—

party includes an aggrieved.

147Representation of aggrieved

(1)A police officer, service legal officer or authorised person for the aggrieved may appear and act on behalf of an aggrieved in a proceeding for any application under this Act.

(2)If an authorised person for an aggrieved has made an application under this Act to a court and the court decides the authorised person is not able to help it, the application is taken to have been made by the aggrieved.

148Child can not be compelled to give evidence

(1)This section applies to a child, other than a child who is an aggrieved or respondent, in a proceeding under this Act.

(2)The child may only be called to give evidence with the leave of the court.

(3)The court may grant leave only if the child—

(a)is at least 12 years; and

(b)is represented by a lawyer; and

(c)agrees to give evidence.

(4)In deciding whether to grant leave, the court must have regard to—

(a)the desirability of protecting children from unnecessary exposure to the court system; and

(b)the harm that could occur to the child and to family relationships if the child gives evidence.

(5)Without limiting subsection (2), (3) or (4), a person may only do the following with the leave of the court—

(a)call the child as a witness in the proceeding;

(b)ask the child to remain in court during the proceeding;

(c)ask the child to swear an affidavit for the proceeding;

(d)ask the child to produce a stated document or other thing in the proceeding.

(6)If the child gives evidence, the child may be cross-examined only with the leave of the court.

149Child must be allowed to obtain legal representation

(1)This section applies to—

(a)a child who—

(i)is named in an application for a protection order as the aggrieved; and

(ii)appears before a court and is not represented by a lawyer, police officer, service legal officer or authorised person for the aggrieved; and

(b)a child who—

(i)is named in an application for a protection order as the respondent; and

(ii)appears before a court and is not represented by a lawyer; and

(c)a child who—

(i)is involved in proceedings mentioned in section 42 or 43; and

(ii)appears before a court and is not represented by a lawyer.

(2)The court may adjourn the hearing of the application if the court considers that the child has not had a reasonable opportunity to obtain representation by a lawyer.

150Protected witnesses

(1)This section applies when any of the following persons (each a protected witness) is to give, or is giving, evidence in a proceeding under this Act—

(a)the aggrieved;

(b)a child;

(c)a relative or associate of the aggrieved who is named in the application that relates to the proceeding.

Note—

See the Evidence Act 1977, part 2, division 6 for provisions that apply to protect the persons mentioned in subsection (1) if they give, or are to give, evidence in criminal proceedings for an offence against part 7.

(2)The court must consider whether to make any of the following orders—

(a)that the protected witness give evidence outside the courtroom and the evidence be transmitted to the courtroom by means of an audio visual link;

(b)that the protected witness give evidence outside the courtroom and an audio visual record of the evidence be made and replayed in the courtroom;

(c)while the protected witness is giving evidence, that a screen, one-way glass or other thing be placed so the protected witness can not see the respondent;

(d)while the protected witness is giving evidence, that the respondent be held in a room apart from the courtroom and the evidence be transmitted to that room by means of an audio visual link;

(e)that the protected witness be accompanied by a person approved by the court for the purpose of providing emotional support;

(f)if the protected witness has a physical or mental disability—that the protected witness gives evidence in a particular way specified by the court that will, in the court’s opinion, minimise the protected witness’s distress;

(g)any other alternative arrangement the court considers appropriate.

(3)However, if the protected witness is a child, the court must make at least 1 of the orders mentioned in subsection (2)(a), (b), (c) or (d).

(4)Any place outside the courtroom where a protected witness is permitted to give evidence under this section is taken to be part of the courtroom while the witness is there for the purpose of giving evidence.

s 150 amd 2023 No. 1 s 47

151Restriction on cross-examination in person

(1)This section applies if—

(a)a protected witness gives evidence in a proceeding under this Act; and

(b)a respondent in the proceeding wishes to cross-examine the protected witness; and

(c)the respondent is not represented by a lawyer.

Note—

See the Evidence Act 1977, part 2, division 6 in relation to the cross-examination of protected witnesses in proceedings for an offence against this Act.

(2)The court, on its own initiative or on the application of a party to the proceeding, may order that the respondent may not cross-examine the protected witness in person if the court is satisfied that the cross-examination is likely to cause the protected witness to—

(a)suffer emotional harm or distress; or

(b)be so intimidated as to be disadvantaged as a witness.

(3)However, if the protected witness is a child, the court must make an order that the respondent may not cross-examine the protected witness in person.

(4)If the court makes an order under this section, the court must—

(a)inform the respondent that the respondent may not cross-examine the protected witness in person; and

(b)require the respondent to advise the court by a stated date or time whether the respondent—

(i)has arranged for a lawyer to act for the respondent; or

(ii)has arranged for a lawyer to act for the respondent for cross-examination of the protected witness; or

(iii)has decided not to cross-examine the protected witness.

s 151 amd 2023 No. 1 s 48

152Special witnesses

This division does not affect the Evidence Act 1977, section 21A.

Note—

The Evidence Act 1977, section 21A allows a court to make orders or directions that apply when a special witness is giving evidence.

s 152 amd 2016 No. 51 s 73 sch 1

153Electronic documents

(1)A court may make a domestic violence order, and a magistrate may make a temporary protection order, under this Act by electronic or computer-based means.

(2)A police officer may file a document to start a proceeding, or in a proceeding, under this Act by electronic or computer-based means.

(3)The clerk of a court may give to a police officer a copy of an application or order under this Act by electronic or computer-based means.

(4)A copy of an application or order under this Act that is required to be given to, or served on, any person may be a paper copy of a document that is produced from an electronic form of the document.

s 153 amd 2016 No. 51 s 42

154Court may issue subpoena

(1)A court hearing an application under this Act may issue a subpoena requiring the attendance of a person before the court.

Note—

See, however, section 145(1)(a) of this Act and the Evidence Act 1977, part 2, division 2A.

(2)The court may require the person either to take an oath or make an affirmation.

(3)In this section—

subpoena means—

(a)a subpoena for production; or

(b)a subpoena to give evidence; or

(c)a subpoena for production and to give evidence.

s 154 amd 2017 No. 8 s 101 sch 1; 2021 No. 23 s 17

155Power of court if failure to cooperate under subpoena

(1)This section applies if a person subpoenaed under section 154 attends before a court and without reasonable excuse—

(a)refuses to be sworn or to affirm; or

(b)refuses to answer a question put to the person; or

(c)fails to give an answer to the court’s satisfaction.

(2)The court may treat the person’s refusal or failure as a contempt of court.

156Provisions concerning warrants

(1)A court must not order the issue of a warrant under this Act as a matter of course, but only where, in the circumstances of the case, the court believes it appropriate that the respondent or, as the case may be, offender, be heard.

(2)If a person is taken into custody under a warrant issued under this Act, the provisions of the Bail Act 1980 apply to the person as if the person had been apprehended on a charge of an offence.

157Costs

(1)Each party to a proceeding for an application under this Act must bear the party’s own costs for the proceeding.

(2)However, the court may award costs against the party who made the application if the court hears the application and decides—

(a)to dismiss the application and, in doing so, also decides that the party, in making the application, intentionally engaged in behaviour, or continued a pattern of behaviour, towards the respondent to the application that is domestic violence; or

Note—

This type of behaviour is known as systems abuse or legal abuse. It is behaviour in which a person intentionally misuses the legal system, including, for example, by starting court proceedings based on false allegations against another person, as a way to intentionally exert control or dominance over the other person or to torment, intimidate or harass the other person.

(b)to dismiss the application on the grounds that it is malicious, deliberately false, frivolous or vexatious.

(3)In this section—

party includes an aggrieved.

s 157 amd 2023 No. 1 s 49

pt 5 div 3A hdg ins 2023 No. 1 s 50

157A Reopening particular proceedings decided in respondent’s absence

(1)The respondent to an application to make or vary a protection order may apply to the court to reopen the proceeding for the application if—

(a)the application was served on the respondent under a substituted service order; and

(b)the application was not, and could not reasonably have been, brought to the respondent’s attention, despite being served in a way stated in the substituted service order; and

(c)the respondent was not present in court when the application was heard and decided.

(2)The respondent must make an application to reopen the proceeding within 28 days after the day on which the respondent became aware that the protection order the subject of the application had been made or varied.

(3)The court may reopen the proceeding if the court is satisfied the grounds mentioned in subsection (1) are established.

(4)If the proceeding is reopened and the respondent fails to appear before the court that is to rehear and decide the reopened proceeding, the respondent may only make another application under this section with the leave of the court.

s 157A ins 2023 No. 1 s 50

157B Effect of decision to reopen proceeding

(1)A decision of the court to reopen a proceeding does not affect the operation of the decision in the proceeding, or a domestic violence order made or varied in the proceeding, or prevent the taking of action to implement the decision or order.

(2)However, the court may make an order staying the operation of the decision, domestic violence order or varied order until the reopened proceeding is decided.

(3)The court may act under subsection (2) on the application of a party or on its own initiative.

s 157B ins 2023 No. 1 s 50

157C Rehearing reopened proceeding

(1)The court may decide a reopened proceeding in any way it considers appropriate, including, for example, by hearing the proceeding afresh, in whole or part.

(2)For an appeal against a decision the subject of the reopened proceeding, the time for starting the appeal starts on the day the court makes the decision under the reopened proceeding.

(3)This division does not otherwise affect a right of appeal.

s 157C ins 2023 No. 1 s 50

158Court to be closed

(1)A court hearing an application under this Act is not to be open to the public.

(2)However, the court may open the proceeding or part of the proceeding to the public or specific persons.

Examples of when a court may open a proceeding—

1The court is hearing another proceeding that concerns the same events upon which the domestic violence proceeding is based and the other proceeding is required to be held in open court.

2The court considers that it is in the public interest to hear the proceeding in open court because the aggrieved and respondent are well-known to the public and a closed court may result in an inaccurate representation of the proceeding.

(3)Also, an aggrieved is entitled to have an adult with the aggrieved throughout the proceeding to provide support and other help.

159Prohibition on publication of certain information for proceeding

(1)A person must not publish—

(a)information given in evidence in a proceeding under this Act in a court; or

(b)information that identifies, or is likely to lead to the identification of, a person as—

(i)a party to a proceeding under this Act; or

(ii)a witness in a proceeding under this Act (other than a police officer); or

(iii)a child concerned in a proceeding under this Act.

Maximum penalty—

(a)for an individual—100 penalty units or 2 years imprisonment; or

(b)for a corporation—1,000 penalty units.

(2)However, subsection (1) does not apply—

(a)if the court expressly authorises the information to be published; or

(b)if each person to whom the information relates consents to the information being published; or

(c)to the display of a notice in the premises of a court; or

(d)to the publication of information for the purpose of a recognised series of law reports or an official website for the publication of judgments, if the information does not identify, and is not likely to lead to the identification of, a person mentioned in subsection (1)(b); or

(e)to the publication of information for approved research, if the information does not identify, and is not likely to lead to the identification of, a person mentioned in subsection (1)(b); or

(f)if the publication is expressly permitted or required under this or another Act; or

(g)if the publication is permitted under a regulation.

(3)In this section—

information includes a photograph, picture, videotape and any other visual representation.

publish means publish to the public by television, radio, the internet, newspaper, periodical, notice, circular or other form of communication.

160Prohibition on obtaining copies of documents for proceeding

(1)A person is not entitled to a copy of—

(a)any part of the record of a proceeding under this Act; or

(b)any document used or tendered in a proceeding under this Act.

(2)However, subsection (1) does not apply to—

(a)a party to the proceeding; or

(b)a person named in an order made in the proceeding; or

(c)a person expressly authorised by the court to obtain a copy of the record or document; or

(d)a person expressly authorised by the chief executive (magistrates court) to obtain a copy of the record or document; or

(e)a person authorised by the chief executive (magistrates court) under section 161; or

(f)an Australian court, if the copy of the record or document is relevant to a proceeding before that court; or

(g)a police officer, if—

(i)the court considers an offence may have been committed, an investigation into whether the offence has been committed is warranted, and the copy of the record is relevant to the investigation; or

(ii)the copy of the record is otherwise relevant to the investigation or prosecution of an offence, or another proceeding related to an offence; or

(h)the director under the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1984 or a police prosecutor, if the copy of the record is relevant to the prosecution of an offence or another proceeding related to an offence.

(3)In this section—

Australian court means a court of the Commonwealth or a State or Territory.

s 160 amd 2016 No. 51 s 43

160A Court may make order about disclosure of, or aggrieved’s access to, respondent’s criminal history or domestic violence history

(1)This section applies if a copy of a respondent’s criminal history or domestic violence history has been filed in or given to a court hearing an application under this Act.

(2)The court may order that a person must not disclose information contained in the respondent’s criminal history or domestic violence history to another person.

(3)An order under subsection (2) does not apply to the respondent.

(4)If the court is satisfied that all or part of the respondent’s criminal history or domestic violence history is not relevant to deciding the application, the court may decide the application without taking into account, or hearing submissions about, all or the part of the criminal history or domestic violence history.

Examples—

•the respondent’s criminal history consists of 1 conviction for a minor stealing offence committed more than 20 years ago

•part of the respondent’s criminal history consists of offences that do not involve violence committed when the respondent was a child

(5)If the court decides the application under subsection (4), the court may order that—

(a)the aggrieved or the applicant (if the applicant is not the aggrieved, the respondent or a police officer)—

(i)not be given a copy of all or part of the criminal history or domestic violence history; and

(ii)not be told about the contents of all or part of the criminal history or domestic violence history; and

(b)if a copy of the criminal history or domestic violence history has been given to a person mentioned in paragraph (a)—the copy be returned to the court.

(6)The court may make an order under this section with or without conditions.

(7)The court makes an order under this section on its own initiative.

s 160A ins 2023 No. 1 s 51

161Research

(1)The chief executive (magistrates court) may authorise a qualified person to use a document mentioned in section 160 for approved research.

(2)If a qualified person is authorised to use a document under subsection (1), the document must be used for the research in a way that could not reasonably be expected to result in the identification of any of the individuals to whom it relates.

(3)In this section—

qualified person, in relation to particular research, means a person who the chief executive (magistrates court) is satisfied has appropriate qualifications or experience to carry out the research.

162Notification of police commissioner

(1)The clerk of the court in which any of the following applications are made, or orders are granted, must give notice of the application or order to the police commissioner—

(a)an application for a protection order;

(b)an application for a variation of a domestic violence order;

(c)an application for—

(i)variation of a recognised interstate order; or

(ii)registration of a New Zealand order; or

(iii)variation of a New Zealand order as it is registered in Queensland or the period for which the order has effect in Queensland; or

(iv)revocation of the registration of a New Zealand order;

(d)an order made because of an application mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c), including a temporary protection order;

(e)an order made on the court’s initiative under section 42;

(f)an order made by the Childrens Court under section 43.

(2)The clerk must give the notice within 1 business day after the day the application is made or order is granted.

s 162 amd 2016 No. 51 s 56

163Notification of public guardian

(1)This section applies if—

(a)a court makes a domestic violence order; and

(b)the court considers there was domestic violence or associated domestic violence involving an adult with impaired capacity; and

(c)the court considers that because of the circumstances involving, or the nature of, the domestic violence or associated domestic violence, the public guardian should be informed about the violence.

(2)The court may inform the public guardian, in writing, about the circumstances involving, or the nature of, the domestic violence or associated domestic violence.

s 163 amd 2014 No. 26 s 232

164Who may appeal

A person who is aggrieved by any of the following decisions of a court may appeal against the decision—

(a)a decision to make a domestic violence order;

(b)a decision to vary, or refuse to vary, a domestic violence order;

(c)a decision to refuse to make a protection order;

(d)if the person sought a temporary protection order in a proceeding under this Act—a decision to refuse to make the order.

s 164 amd 2015 No. 34 s 11

165How to start appeal

(1)The appeal is started by filing a notice of appeal with the registrar of the appellate court.

(2)The appellant must—

(a)serve a copy of the notice on—

(i)the other persons entitled to appeal against the decision; and

(ii)the police commissioner; and

(b)file a copy of the notice in the court that made the decision being appealed.

(3)Despite subsection (2), the registrar may ask the police commissioner to serve a copy of the notice on the persons mentioned in subsection (2)(a)(i).

(4)The notice of appeal must be filed within 28 days after—

(a)the day on which the decision is made; or

(b)if the decision was made in the absence of the appellant, the earlier of the following—

(i)the day on which a copy of the decision is served on the appellant;

(ii)the day on which a police officer tells the appellant about the existence of the decision.

(5)The appellate court may at any time extend the period for filing the notice of appeal.

(6)The notice of appeal must state fully the grounds of the appeal and the facts relied on.

s 165 amd 2015 No. 34 s 12

166Effect of appeal on decision

(1)The start of an appeal against a decision of the court does not affect the operation of the decision or prevent the taking of action to implement the decision.

(2)However, the court or the appellate court may make an order staying the operation of the decision being appealed against until the appeal is finally decided.

(3)The court or the appellate court may act under subsection (2) on the application of the appellant or on its own initiative.

s 166 amd 2015 No. 34 s 13

167Police commissioner has right of appearance

The police commissioner has a right to appear and be heard before the appellate court on an appeal under this division.

168Hearing procedures

(1)An appeal must be decided on the evidence and proceedings before the court that made the decision being appealed.

(2)However, the appellate court may order that the appeal be heard afresh, in whole or part.

169Powers of appellate court

(1)In deciding an appeal, the appellate court may—

(a)confirm the decision appealed against; or

(b)vary the decision appealed against; or

(c)set aside the decision and substitute another decision; or

(d)set aside the decision appealed against and remit the matter to the court that made the decision.

(2)The decision of the appellate court upon an appeal shall be final and conclusive.

pt 5A hdg ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

pt 5A div 1 hdg ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

169APurpose of part

The purpose of this part is to enable particular entities to share information, while protecting the confidentiality of the information, to—

(a)assess whether there is a serious threat to the life, health or safety of people because of domestic violence; and

(b)respond to serious threats to the life, health or safety of people because of domestic violence; and

(c)refer people who fear or experience domestic violence, or who commit domestic violence, to specialist DFV service providers.

s 169A ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

169BPrinciples for sharing information

The principles underlying this part are—

(a)whenever safe, possible and practical, a person’s consent should be obtained before—

(i)providing, or planning to provide, a service to the person; or

(ii)disclosing personal information about the person to someone else; and

(b)because the safety, protection and wellbeing of people who fear or experience domestic violence are paramount, their safety and protection take precedence over the principle mentioned in paragraph (a); and

(c)before disclosing information about a person to someone else, an entity should consider whether disclosing the information is likely to adversely affect the safety of the person or another person.

s 169B ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

169CDefinitions for part

(1)In this part—

information includes a document.

prescribed entity means each of the following—

(a)the chief executive of a department that is mainly responsible for any of the following matters—

(i)adult corrective services;

(ii)child protection services;

(iii)community services;

(iv)court services;

(v)disability services;

(vi)education;

(vii)housing services;

(viii)public health services;

(ix)youth justice services;

(b)the chief executive of another department that provides services to persons who fear or experience domestic violence or who commit domestic violence;

(c)the commissioner under the Ambulance Service Act 1991;

(d)the police commissioner;

(e)the chief executive officer of Mater Misericordiae Ltd (ACN 096 708 922);

(f)a health service chief executive under the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011;

(g)the principal of a school that is accredited, or provisionally accredited, under the Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Act 2001;

(h)another entity prescribed by regulation.

specialist DFV service provider means a non-government entity funded by the State or Commonwealth to provide services to persons who fear or experience domestic violence or who commit domestic violence.

support service provider means a non-government entity, other than a specialist DFV service provider, that provides assistance or support services to persons who may include persons who fear or experience domestic violence or who commit domestic violence.

Examples of assistance or support services—

•counselling

•disability services

•health services

•housing and homelessness services

•legal services

•sexual assault services

(2)In this part, a reference to domestic violence includes a reference to associated domestic violence.

s 169C ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

pt 5A div 2 hdg ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

169DSharing information for assessing domestic violence threat

(1)A prescribed entity or specialist DFV service provider (each the holder) may give information to another prescribed entity or specialist DFV service provider if the holder reasonably believes—

(a)a person fears or is experiencing domestic violence; and

(b)the information may help the entity receiving the information to assess whether there is a serious threat to the person’s life, health or safety because of the domestic violence.

(2)Also, a support service provider (the holder) may give information to a prescribed entity or specialist DFV service provider if the holder reasonably believes—

(a)a person fears or is experiencing domestic violence; and

(b)the information may help the entity receiving the information to assess whether there is a serious threat to the person’s life, health or safety because of the domestic violence.

s 169D ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

169ESharing information for responding to serious domestic violence threat

A prescribed entity, specialist DFV service provider or support service provider (each the holder) may give information to another prescribed entity, specialist DFV service provider or support service provider if the holder reasonably believes—

(a)a person fears or is experiencing domestic violence; and

(b)the information may help the entity receiving the information to lessen or prevent a serious threat to the person’s life, health or safety because of the domestic violence.

s 169E ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

169FPolice officer may refer person to specialist DFV service provider

(1)A police officer may give referral information about a person to a specialist DFV service provider if the police officer reasonably believes—

(a)the person fears or is experiencing domestic violence and there is a threat to the person’s life, health or safety because of the domestic violence; or

(b)the person has committed domestic violence against another person.

(2)The following information about a person is referral information—

(a)the person’s name;

(b)the person’s contact details, including, for example, the person’s telephone number or email address;

(c)details of the basis for the reasonable belief;

(d)any other information that is, in the police officer’s opinion, reasonably necessary to assist the entity receiving the information to offer to provide a service to the person.

Example for paragraph (d)—

whether the person is the primary carer of children

s 169F ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

169GPermitted uses of shared information

(1)A prescribed entity or specialist DFV service provider may use information given to it under this division to the extent necessary to do the following—

(a)assess whether there is a serious threat to a person’s life, health or safety because of domestic violence;

(b)lessen or prevent a serious threat to a person’s life, health or safety because of domestic violence, including by—

(i)contacting, or attempting to contact, the person or another person involved in the domestic violence; or

(ii)offering to provide assistance or a service to the person or another person involved in the domestic violence.

(2)A support service provider may use information given to it under this division to the extent necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to a person’s life, health or safety because of domestic violence, including by—

(a)contacting, or attempting to contact, the person or another person involved in the domestic violence; or

(b)offering to provide assistance or a service to the person or another person involved in the domestic violence.

s 169G ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

169HWho may give or receive information on behalf of entity

(1)This section applies if an entity, including a prescribed entity, specialist DFV service provider or support service provider, may give, receive or use information under this division.

(2)A person mentioned in subsection (3) may give, receive or use the information for the entity if—

(a)the person’s duties for the entity include—

(i)assessing threats to life, health or safety because of domestic violence; or

(ii)taking action to lessen or prevent threats to life, health or safety because of domestic violence, including by providing assistance or a service to a person involved in the domestic violence; or

(b)the person is otherwise authorised by the entity to give, receive or use the information.

(3)For subsection (2), the persons are the following—

(a)a person employed or engaged by the entity;

(b)if the entity is the police commissioner—a police officer or a staff member of the police service under the Police Service Administration Act 1990.

s 169H ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

amd 2020 No. 7 s 17

169IFacts or opinion may be shared

Information that may be given to an entity under this division may be comprised of facts or opinion.

s 169I ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

169JLimits on information that may be shared

Despite sections 169D, 169E and 169F, information may not be given to an entity under this division if—

(a)the information is about a person’s criminal history to the extent it relates to a conviction, other than a conviction for a domestic violence offence, and—

(i)the rehabilitation period for the conviction under the Criminal Law (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act 1986 has expired under that Act; and

(ii)the conviction is not revived as prescribed by section 11 of that Act; or

(b)the information must not be disclosed under the Child Protection Act 1999, chapter 6, part 6, division 2, subdivision 1; or

(c)the information is confidential information within the meaning of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1984, section 24A known by a person and acquired in the circumstances mentioned in section 24A(1) and (2) of that Act; or

(d)the information is—

(i)sensitive evidence within the meaning of the Criminal Code, section 590AF; or

(ii)a recording within the meaning of the Evidence Act 1977, section 21AY; or

(iii)a section 93A criminal statement or a section 93A transcript within the meaning of the Evidence Act 1977, schedule 3; or

(iv)a recorded statement, or a transcript of a recorded statement, within the meaning of the Evidence Act 1977, section 103A; or

(e)giving the information would be contrary to an order of a court or tribunal.

s 169J ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

amd 2022 No. 12 s 31; 2022 No. 7 s 132 sch 1

pt 5A div 3 hdg ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

169KConfidentiality of information obtained under this part

(1)This section applies to a person (the receiver) who—

(a)is or has been a person employed or engaged by a prescribed entity, specialist DFV service provider or support service provider; and

(b)in that capacity was given, or given access to, information under this part about another person.

(2)This section also applies to a person (also the receiver) who is given, or is given access to, information about another person by a person mentioned in subsection (1)(a).

(3)The receiver must not use the information, or disclose or give access to the information to anyone else.

Maximum penalty—100 penalty units or 2 years imprisonment.

(4)However, the receiver may use the information, or disclose or give access to the information to someone else, if the use, disclosure or giving of access—

(a)is permitted under this part; or

(b)if the entity that employs or engages the receiver is required to comply, under the Information Privacy Act 2009, with the information privacy principles—complies with the information privacy principles; or

(c)is otherwise required or permitted by law.

(5)Subsection (4)(b) applies despite the operation of the Information Privacy Act 2009, section 7(2).

(6)In this section—

information privacy principles means—

(a)the information privacy principles set out in the Information Privacy Act 2009, schedule 3; or

(b)the national privacy principles set out in the Information Privacy Act 2009, schedule 4.

s 169K ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

169LPolice use of confidential information

(1)This section applies if a police officer receives information from a prescribed entity, specialist DFV service provider or support service provider under section 169D or 169E.

(2)The police officer, and any other police officer to whom the information is disclosed under this section, may use the information to the extent necessary to perform the officer’s functions as a police officer.

(3)A police officer must not use the information under this section for an investigation or for a proceeding for an offence unless—

(a)the police officer, or another police officer, has consulted with the entity that gave the information about the proposed use; and

(b)in consultation with the entity, the police officer has considered whether the proposed use of the information for the investigation or proceeding would be in the best interests of a person experiencing domestic violence.

(4)Subsection (3) does not apply to the extent that the police officer needs to use the information immediately in the performance of the officer’s functions as a police officer.

(5)In this section—

use, in relation to information, includes disclose, or give access to, the information to someone else.

s 169L ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

pt 5A div 4 hdg ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

169MChief executive must make guidelines

(1)The chief executive must make guidelines, consistent with this Act and the Information Privacy Act 2009, for sharing and dealing with information under this part.

(2)The purposes of the guidelines are to ensure—

(a)information is shared under this part for proper purposes; and

(b)to the greatest extent possible, the privacy of individuals is respected when sharing information under this part, having regard to the paramount principle stated in section 4(1); and

(c)information shared under this part is properly used, stored, retained and disposed of.

(3)In preparing the guidelines, the chief executive must consult with the privacy commissioner under the Information Privacy Act 2009.

(4)The chief executive must publish the guidelines on the department’s website.

s 169M ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

pt 5A div 5 hdg ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

169NProtection from liability for giving information

(1)This section applies if a person, acting honestly, gives information in compliance with this part.

(2)Subject to section 169O, the person is not liable, civilly, criminally or under an administrative process, for giving the information.

(3)Also, merely because the person gives the information, the person can not be held to have—

(a)breached any code of professional etiquette or ethics; or

(b)departed from accepted standards of professional conduct.

(4)Without limiting subsections (2) and (3)—

(a)in a proceeding for defamation, the person has a defence of absolute privilege for publishing the information; and

(b)if the person would otherwise be required to maintain confidentiality about the information under an Act, oath or rule of law or practice, the person—

(i)does not contravene the Act, oath or rule of law or practice by giving the information; and

(ii)is not liable to disciplinary action for giving the information.

s 169N ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

169OInteraction with other laws

(1)This part does not limit a power or obligation under another Act or law to give information.

(2)Also, disclosure of information under this part does not waive, or otherwise affect, a privilege a person may claim in relation to the information under another Act or law.

(3)Subject to subsection (4), this part applies to information despite any other law that would otherwise prohibit or restrict the giving of the information.

Examples of other laws—

•Child Protection Act 1999, section 188

•Education (General Provisions) Act 2006, section 426

•Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011, section 142(1)

•Police Service Administration Act 1990, section 10.1

•Youth Justice Act 1992, section 288

(4)This part applies subject to the following provisions—

(a)the Child Protection Act 1999, chapter 6, part 6, division 2, subdivision 1;

(b)the Criminal Code, section 590AX;

(c)the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1984, section 24A;

(d)the Evidence Act 1977, sections 21AZB, 21AZC, 93AA and 103Q.

s 169O ins 2016 No. 51 s 44

amd 2022 No. 12 s 52 sch 1 pt 2; 2022 No. 7 s 132 sch 1

Note—

To ensure the greatest possible harmonisation for national recognition of domestic violence orders, this part closely follows corresponding legislation enacted in other Australian jurisdictions. Accordingly, this part is not entirely consistent with Queensland’s current drafting style.

pt 6 hdg sub 2016 No. 51 s 57

pt 6 div 1 hdg ins 2016 No. 51 s 57

170Object of part

This part establishes, in conjunction with the corresponding laws, a national recognition scheme for DVOs (or domestic violence orders).

s 170 sub 2016 No. 51 s 57

171Definitions for part

In this part—

corresponding law means a law of another State that contains provisions that substantially correspond with this part.

DVO means a local order, an interstate order or a New Zealand order.

final order means a DVO that is not an interim order.

interim order—

(a)means a DVO of an interim or provisional nature; and

(b)includes the following—

(i)a temporary protection order;

(ii)a police protection notice;

(iii)release conditions;

(iv)another DVO made by a police officer;

(v)another DVO declared by regulation to be an interim order.

interstate law enforcement agency means—

(a)the police force of another State; or

(b)another agency of another State responsible for the enforcement of DVOs in that State.

interstate order see section 173.

issuing authority means—

(a)generally—a court or person with power to make, vary or revoke a DVO under the law of a participating jurisdiction; or

(b)for a DVO—the court that, or person who, made the DVO.

local order see section 172.

make includes issue.

New Zealand order means an order made under the Domestic Violence Act 1995 (NZ) or under an Act repealed by that Act.

participating jurisdiction means the following jurisdictions—

(a)Queensland;

(b)another State in which a corresponding law is enacted.

properly notified see section 175.

protected person means—

(a)in relation to a local order—the aggrieved and each named person; or

(b)otherwise—a person for whose protection or benefit a DVO is made.

recognised interstate order see section 176A(1).

registered foreign order see section 174.

registered New Zealand order means a New Zealand order registered under division 4.

respondent means the person against whom a DVO is made.

revoke includes cancel.

variation application see section 176I(1).

s 171 sub 2016 No. 51 s 57

172Meaning of local order

A local order means a domestic violence order, police protection notice or release conditions.

Note—

A registered New Zealand order is not a local order even though, under section 176 (1)(a), it is taken to have been made in Queensland.

s 172 sub 2016 No. 51 s 57

173Meaning of interstate order

An interstate order is an order made by a court or a police officer of another State that is declared by regulation to be an interstate order.

Note—

A registered foreign order is not an interstate order even though, under section 176 (1)(a), it is taken to have been made in the State in which it is registered as a registered foreign order.

s 173 sub 2016 No. 51 s 57

174Meaning of registered foreign order

A registered foreign order means a New Zealand order that is—

(a)a registered New Zealand order; or

(b)declared by regulation to be a registered foreign order.

s 174 sub 2016 No. 51 s 57

175 Meaning of properly notified

(1)The making of a local order is properly notified under this Act if—

(a)for a local order that is a domestic violence order—the respondent is served with a copy of the order under section 133(1)(a) or 184 or otherwise becomes enforceable against the respondent under section 177(1); or

Note—

A domestic violence order becomes enforceable against a respondent under section 177(1) when it is made (if the respondent is present in court), when it is served on the respondent or when a police office tells the respondent about the existence of the order and its conditions.

(b)for a local order that is a police protection notice—the respondent is served with the notice under section 109 or the notice otherwise takes effect under section 113(1); or

Note—

A police protection notice takes effect under section 113(1) when it is served on the respondent or when a police officer tells the respondent about the existence of the notice and its conditions.

(c)for a local order that is release conditions—the conditions are served on the respondent under section 124(1)(e).

Note—

See section 188 for additional requirements that apply if a document is required to be served on a child.

(2)The making of an interstate order is properly notified under the law of the State in which it is made in the circumstances provided for by the corresponding law of that State.

(3)A variation to a recognised interstate order that is done in Queensland is properly notified under this Act if—

(a)the respondent is served with a copy of the variation under section 184; or

Notes—

1Under section 91(5), a court that varies a local order must make a copy of the order that states the details and conditions of the order after the variation. This is referred to in the Act as the varied order.

2Section 184 sets out the requirements for service of a varied order on the respondent.

(b)the variation otherwise takes effect under section 99.

(4)A variation to a recognised interstate order or local order that is done in another State is properly notified under the law of that State in the circumstances provided for by the corresponding law of that State.

(5)Despite subsections (1) and (2), a registered foreign order is properly notified—

(a)under this Act when it is registered under division 4; or

(b)under the law of another State when it is registered in that State.

s 175 sub 2016 No. 51 s 57

176 Special provisions for registered foreign orders

(1)For the purpose of this part, a registered foreign order—

(a)is taken to be made in the State in which it is registered as a registered foreign order; and

(b)is taken to be made when it becomes a registered foreign order in that State.

(2)A registered foreign order is varied or revoked, for the purpose of this part, if its registration as a registered foreign order is varied or revoked.

s 176 sub 2016 No. 51 s 57

pt 6 div 2 hdg ins 2016 No. 51 s 57

pt 6 div 2 sdiv 1 hdg ins 2016 No. 51 s 57

176A Interstate and foreign DVOs are recognised interstate orders

(1)Each of the following is a recognised interstate order—

(a)an interstate order made in a participating jurisdiction;

(b)a registered foreign order registered in a participating jurisdiction.

Note—

The corresponding laws of other participating jurisdictions treat domestic violence orders made, and police protection notices and release conditions issued, in Queensland as recognised interstate orders for the purposes of those laws. See also section 223.

(2)An interstate order or registered foreign order—

(a)becomes a recognised interstate order when it is made in a participating State; and

(b)subject to this part, remains a recognised interstate order while it remains in force in the State in which it was made.

s 176A ins 2016 No. 51 s 57

176B Recognised interstate order prevails over earlier comparable DVOs

(1)A recognised interstate order (a new order) prevails over either of the following made before the new order (each an earlier comparable DVO)—

(a)a comparable recognised interstate order; or

(b)a comparable local order.

(2)When the new order becomes enforceable against the respondent—

(a)the earlier comparable DVO stops being a recognised interstate order; or

(b)the earlier comparable local order stops having effect.

(3)A local order that stops having effect under subsection (2) is taken to have ended under section 97.

(4)However, an earlier comparable DVO continues to be a recognised interstate order or local order, and to have effect, to the extent it relates to a person who is not a protected person under the new order.

(5)A DVO made by a police officer does not prevail over a comparable DVO made by a court of any State.

(6)A DVO is comparable with another DVO if—

(a)the DVOs are made against the same respondent; and

(b)the DVOs are made for the protection of 1 or more of the same protected persons.

s 176B ins 2016 No. 51 s 57

176C Making of new orders

Nothing in this part stops a person applying for, or a court making, a domestic violence order even though a recognised interstate order applies to the same respondent.

s 176C ins 2016 No. 51 s 57

pt 6 div 2 sdiv 2 hdg ins 2016 No. 51 s 57

176D Recognised interstate order may be enforced

(1)A recognised interstate order that has been properly notified under the law of the State in which it was made—

(a)has the same effect as a local order; and

(b)may be enforced against a respondent as if it were a local order that had been properly notified under this Act.

(2)A recognised interstate order mentioned in subsection (1) includes a recognised interstate order as varied by a variation—

(a)done in a participating jurisdiction by a court under this part or a corresponding law; and

(b)of which the respondent has been properly notified under the law of the State in which the variation was done.

(3)A variation to a local order done in another jurisdiction may be enforced against a respondent as if the respondent had been properly notified of the variation under this Act if—

(a)the variation was done by a court under a corresponding law; and

(b)the respondent was properly notified of the variation under the law of the State in which the variation was done.

(4)A prohibition, restriction or condition imposed by a recognised interstate order—

(a)has the same meaning as it would have in the State in which the order was made; and

(b)may be enforced as if it were a prohibition, restriction or condition of a local order.

s 176D ins 2016 No. 51 s 57

176E Penalty for contravention

(1)This section applies for the purpose of working out the maximum penalty for an offence of contravening a recognised interstate order.

(2)A previous contravention of a recognised interstate order that constituted an offence is to be treated as a previous offence of contravening a local order.

s 176E ins 2016 No. 51 s 57

176F Licences, permits and other authorisations

(1)This section applies if a law of Queensland (a relevant law) restricts the grant of an authorisation, or authorises or requires an authorisation to be suspended or revoked, if a person is or has been named as a respondent in a local order.

(2)The relevant law applies to a person who is or has been named as a respondent in a recognised interstate order as if it were a local order.

(3)For the purposes of a relevant law—

(a)a recognised interstate order that is a final order is to be treated in the same way as a local order that is a final order; and

(b)a recognised interstate order that is an interim order is to be treated in the same way as a local order that is an interim order.

(4)This section applies subject to the Weapons Act.

Notes—

1See the Weapons Act, sections 27A, 28A, 29A, 29B and 34AA which provide for the impact on a person’s weapons licence, including the suspension or revocation of the licence, if the person is named as the respondent in a DVO, whether or not the DVO is a recognised interstate order.

2See also the Weapons Act, sections 10B and 10C for how a DVO naming a person as a respondent affects whether the person is a fit and proper person to hold a weapon’s licence or to be a licensed dealer’s associate, whether or not the DVO is a recognised interstate order.

(5)In this section—

authorisation includes a licence or permit.

grant includes issue.

s 176F ins 2016 No. 51 s 57