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Abbott steps up anti-violence action

Getty

Getty

Domestic violence orders could apply across state borders under a plan Tony Abbott wants in place by the end of the year.

The prime minister on Wednesday met with Australian of the Year Rosie Batty and former Victorian police chief Ken Lay, who he appointed to a new advisory panel on violence against women.

Ms Batty became a passionate campaigner against violence after her 11-year-old son Luke was murdered by his father at cricket training in February last year.

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Mr Abbott will ask state and territory leaders at the next Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting to fast-track a national domestic violence order scheme.

“We all know that so many families do flee from city to city, from state to state to avoid violence, and if they’re fleeing violence, the violence should not be allowed to follow them,” Mr Abbott said.

Every week one Australian woman dies as a result of domestic violence.

“This is a very serious problem and the government is determined to act this year to make a difference,” Mr Abbott said.

Under the scheme, if a protection order is issued in one state, it will apply in all states.

COAG will also work on national standards for intervening against perpetrators, as well as ways to improve online safety.

Ms Batty says a national domestic violence order scheme would be a major step towards change.

“This announcement is a major step towards bringing about change in how domestic violence is dealt with and in keeping people safe, so I am delighted with the prime minister’s commitment to seek national co-ordination and support,” Ms Batty said on Wednesday.

“I hope a broad-cross section of expert and community representatives will be part of the panel, too.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says the current system is broken and doesn’t protect the innocent or punish the guilty.

“We’re happy to look at any change, any reform that might make it more likely that we can keep women and children safe,” he said.

Victoria has a royal commission into family violence and a minister for family violence prevention.

Federal Labor frontbencher Claire Moore said Mr Abbott had made the same announcement about national domestic violence orders in June 2014.

But she welcomed the recommitment and the appointment of Ms Batty.

“If Ms Batty’s acknowledgement leads to action on the plan to nationalise domestic violence orders, that is even more significant,” Senator Moore said.

Greens senator Larissa Waters said the government should restore funding cut from services for women escaping domestic violence.

Millions of dollars had been taken from homelessness services, community legal centres and single parent support, she said.

-AAP

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