The ACT Government has introduced a wide-ranging reform package designed to improve protection and justice for victim-survivors of family, personal and sexual violence.

The Family, Personal and Sexual Violence Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 establishes a new Family Violence Safety Notice Scheme; updates court processes; and removes the ability for child sex offenders to rely on “good character” references during sentencing.

Attorney-General Tara Cheyne said the reforms were designed to reduce re-traumatisation and to give police the power to act more swiftly in high-risk situations.

“These notices offer police an additional tool to protect victim-survivors, alongside existing powers to arrest and charge.”

Unlike the current After-Hours Order Scheme — which requires police to seek a short-term protection order from a magistrate, and can only be used outside business hours — Family Violence Safety Notices will be available at any time.

Senior police will be able to issue them on the spot where there is a risk of family violence, providing up to 14 days’ protection — giving victim-survivors time to apply for a long-term Family Violence Order. Courts will be able to amend or revoke notices.

“This is a landmark reform to equip police officers with a stronger and more responsive tool to combat family and sexual violence,” Ms Cheyne said.

The Bill also removes the option for people found guilty of sexual offences against children to argue they should receive a lighter sentence because of “good character”.

“It is perverse that the same good character that facilitated the child sexual abuse, can then be presented as a mitigating factor during the offender’s sentencing,” Ms Cheyne said.

“If you are found guilty of a sexual offence against a child, then evidence relating to your character or standing in the community … will not reduce the severity of the sentence imposed.”

The reforms follow sustained advocacy from the Your Reference Ain’t Relevant campaign, led by survivors Harrison James and Jarad Grice.

Mr James said: “For too long, survivors have had to sit in courtrooms and listen to their abuser described as a ‘good person,’ even when that reputation is what gave them access to the child they harmed.

“Today the ACT Government has shown it is prepared to lead the way in ending that injustice. I’m deeply grateful to Attorney-General Tara Cheyne for her courage and for standing with survivors.”

The ACT Greens welcomed the bill, particularly the removal of good character references.

Party leader Shane Rattenbury MLA said allowing child sexual abusers to rely on such references “rewards the very manipulative strategies perpetrators use”.

“Once this legislation passes … it will be clear: you cannot be both a person of good character and a convicted paedophile,” he said.

Mr Rattenbury — who began work on the reforms during his time as Attorney-General in the previous Assembly term, including convening a roundtable — credited courageous survivors for driving the change.

“Their determined advocacy has ensured this change will happen.”

Canberra Liberals MLA Deborah Morris, Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, said: “Too often, victim-survivors feel retraumatised and at-risk navigating a complex and lethargic system. Reform is long-overdue.

“The Canberra Liberals will examine the bill closely to ensure that it puts victims first and equips police to provide immediate protection to people at risk of domestic violence.”