The abuse of domestic violence orders

Augusto Zimmermann, Chair in Legal Theory and Constitutional Law, Murdoch University School of Law & Law Reform Commissioner discusses abuses of domestic violence orders.  He outlines some cases in which the orders can be misused.  False accusations can be made as an attempt to gain the upper hand in custody battles, for instance, or as a way of evicting someone from a house.  He also cautions against going soft on domestic violence.  The discussion is framed in response to the national DVO scheme being proposed by the prime minister.  He asks whether that should be an opportunity to discuss the substance of the system, rather than viewing it as a straightforward state co-operation scheme.