{"id":"domestic-violence-orders-national-recognition-act-2017","name":"Domestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017","slug":"domestic-violence-orders-national-recognition-act-2017","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":30440,"registerId":"wa-domestic-violence-orders-national-recognition-act-2017-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Domestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nDomestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017\n\nWestern Australia\n\nDomestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017\n\nContents\n\nPart 1 — Preliminary\n\n1. Short title 2\n\n2. Commencement 2\n\n3. Object of Act 2\n\n4. Terms used 2\n\n5. Local DVO 4\n\n6. Interstate DVO 5\n\n7. Registered foreign order 5\n\n8. General violence order 5\n\n9. Domestic violence concern 6\n\n10. Special provisions for foreign orders 7\n\nPart 2 — National Recognition of DVOs\n\nDivision 1 — General Principles\n\n11. Recognition of DVOs 8\n\n12. Variations to DVO 8\n\n13. Cancellation of recognised DVO 9\n\n14. Recognised DVO prevails over earlier comparable DVOs 10\n\n15. Making of new orders 11\n\nDivision 2 — Enforcement of recognised DVOs\n\n16. Recognised DVOs and variations are enforceable against person bound 11\n\n17. Properly notified 11\n\n18. Contravention of enforceable recognised DVO 12\n\nDivision 3 — Enforcement of non‑local DVOs\n\n19. Non‑local DVO to be treated as local DVO 13\n\n20. Licences, permits and other authorisations 13\n\n21. Recognition of disqualification to hold firearms licence 13\n\n22. Order for costs 14\n\nPart 3 — Variation and cancellation of recognised non‑local DVOs\n\n23. Term used: court 16\n\n24. Power of court to vary or cancel recognised non‑local DVOs 16\n\n25. Application for variation or cancellation of recognised non‑local DVO 16\n\n26. Decision about hearing of application 17\n\nPart 4 — Exchange of information\n\n27. Issuing authorities may obtain DVO information 19\n\n28. Issuing authorities must provide DVO information 19\n\n29. Law enforcement agencies may obtain DVO information 19\n\n30. Information to be provided to law enforcement agencies 19\n\n31. DVO information obtained from, or provided to, prescribed persons or bodies 20\n\nPart 5 — Miscellaneous\n\n32. Certificate of evidence — notification 21\n\n33. Regulations 22\n\n34. Review of Act 22\n\nPart 6 — Transitional provisions\n\nDivision 1 — Preliminary\n\n35. Term used: commencement day 23\n\n36. Enforcement of DVOs under other provisions 23\n\nDivision 2 — DVOs to which scheme applies\n\n37. DVOs made in this jurisdiction 23\n\n38. DVOs made in other jurisdictions 24\n\nDivision 3 — Extension of scheme to older DVOs\n\n39. DVOs declared to be recognised DVOs 24\n\n40. DVOs declared to be recognised in other jurisdictions before commencement day 25\n\nDivision 4 — Power to declare DVO to be recognised\n\n41. Power to declare DVO to be recognised 25\n\n42. Application for order 26\n\n43. Declarations relating to general violence orders 27\n\nPart 7 — *Restraining Orders Act 1997* amended\n\n44. Act amended 28\n\n45. Section 3 amended 28\n\n46. Section 8 amended 28\n\n47. Sections 74A and 74B inserted 28\n\n74A. Interstate DVOs under *Domestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017* cannot be registered 28\n\n74B. Interstate orders registered before commencement of *Domestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017* 29\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 30\n\nDefined terms\n\n  \n\nWestern Australia\n\nDomestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017\n\nAn Act to give effect to the Western Australian component of a national recognition scheme for domestic violence orders and to make consequential amendments to the *Restraining Orders Act 1997*.\n\nThe Parliament of Western Australia enacts as follows:\n\n## Part 1 — Preliminary\n\n##### 1. Short title\n\nThis is the *Domestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017*.\n\n##### 2. Commencement\n\nThis Act comes into operation as follows —\n\n(a) sections 1 and 2 — on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent;\n\n(b) the rest of the Act — on a day fixed by proclamation, and different days may be fixed for different provisions.\n\n##### 3. Object of Act\n\nThis Act establishes, in conjunction with the corresponding laws, a national recognition scheme for DVOs or domestic violence orders.\n\n##### 4. Terms used\n\n(1) In this Act —\n\ncancel includes revoke;\n\ncorresponding law means a law of another jurisdiction that —\n\n(a) contains provisions that substantially correspond with this Act; and\n\n(b) is prescribed by the regulations to be a corresponding law for the purposes of this Act;\n\ncourt, of another participating jurisdiction, includes a registrar of that court;\n\ndomestic violence concern — see section 9;\n\nDVO means a local DVO, an interstate DVO or a foreign order;\n\nfinal DVO means a DVO that is not an interim DVO;\n\nforeign order means —\n\n(a) a New Zealand DVO; or\n\n(b) an order prescribed by the regulations that —\n\n(i) substantially corresponds to a local DVO; and\n\n(ii) is made under a law of another country;\n\nformer RO Act means the *Restraining Orders Act 1997* as in force before 1 July 2017;\n\ngeneral violence order — see section 8;\n\ninterim DVO means a DVO that is of an interim or provisional nature and, to avoid doubt, includes —\n\n(a) a DVO made by a police officer; or\n\n(b) a DVO prescribed by the regulations to be an interim DVO;\n\ninterstate DVO — see section 6;\n\ninterstate law enforcement agency means —\n\n(a) the Police Force of another jurisdiction; or\n\n(b) any other agency of another jurisdiction responsible for the enforcement of DVOs in that jurisdiction;\n\nissuing authority means a court or person with power to make, vary or cancel a DVO under the law of a participating jurisdiction;\n\nissuing jurisdiction, in relation to a DVO, means the jurisdiction in which the DVO is made;\n\njurisdiction means a State or Territory;\n\nlocal DVO — see section 5;\n\nlocal law enforcement agency means the Police Force of this jurisdiction;\n\nmake includes issue;\n\nNew Zealand DVO means an order made under the *Domestic Violence Act 1995* (New Zealand) or under an Act repealed by that Act;\n\nnon‑local DVO means an interstate DVO or a foreign order;\n\nparticipating jurisdiction means the following jurisdictions —\n\n(a) this jurisdiction;\n\n(b) a jurisdiction in which a corresponding law is enacted;\n\nperson bound by an order means the person against whom the order is made;\n\nproperly notified — see section 17;\n\nprotected person means a person for whose protection or benefit a DVO is made;\n\nrecognised DVO — see sections 11 and 39;\n\nrecognised variation — see section 12;\n\nregistered foreign order — see section 7;\n\nvary a DVO includes the following —\n\n(a) amend or modify the DVO;\n\n(b) add further conditions, prohibitions or restrictions to the DVO or vary or delete conditions, prohibitions or restrictions;\n\n(c) extend or reduce the period in which the DVO remains in force.\n\n(2) Notes included in this Act do not form part of the Act.\n\n##### 5. Local DVO\n\n(1) A local DVO means —\n\n(a) a family violence restraining order as defined in the *Restraining Orders Act 1997* section 3(1);\n\n(b) a police order as defined in the *Restraining Orders Act 1997* section 3(1);\n\n(c) a violence restraining order made under the former RO Act that addresses a domestic violence concern.\n\n(2) A registered foreign order is not a local DVO.\n\n##### 6. Interstate DVO\n\n(1) An interstate DVO means an order prescribed by the regulations that —\n\n(a) substantially corresponds to a local DVO; and\n\n(b) is made under a law of another jurisdiction that contains provisions that substantially correspond to the *Restraining Orders Act 1997* Part 1B.\n\n(2) A registered foreign order is not an interstate DVO.\n\n##### 7. Registered foreign order\n\nA registered foreign order means a foreign order that —\n\n(a) is a foreign restraining order registered under the *Restraining Orders Act 1997* Part 7A and that corresponds with an order under Part 1B; or\n\n(b) is registered under a law of another jurisdiction that contains provisions that substantially correspond to the *Restraining Orders Act 1997* Part 1B.\n\n##### 8. General violence order\n\nA general violence order means any of the following —\n\n(a) an intervention order under the *Intervention Orders (Prevention of Abuse) Act 2009* (South Australia); or\n\n(b) a violence restraining order made under the former RO Act Part 2; or\n\n(c) an order prescribed by the regulations that —\n\n(i) substantially corresponds to an order referred to in paragraph (a) or (b); and\n\n(ii) is made under a law of another jurisdiction that substantially corresponds to the laws referred to in those paragraphs.\n\n##### 9. Domestic violence concern\n\n(1) A violence restraining order made under the former RO Act Part 2 addresses a domestic violence concern if —\n\n(a) the order was made because the person bound by the order had committed an act of family and domestic violence as defined in the former RO Act section 6(1); or\n\n(b) it was feared the person bound by the order would commit an act of family and domestic violence as defined in the former RO Act section 6(1).\n\n(2) An intervention order under the *Intervention Orders (Prevention of Abuse) Act 2009* (South Australia) addresses a domestic violence concern if the order is made because it is reasonable to suspect that the person bound by the order will, without intervention, commit an act of domestic abuse (within the meaning of that Act).\n\n(3) A general violence order is taken, for the purpose of this Act, to be an order that addresses a domestic violence concern if —\n\n(a) it is declared to be an order that addresses a domestic violence concern by the issuing authority that makes the order; or\n\n(b) a court of the jurisdiction in which the order is made makes an order declaring the DVO to be a recognised DVO in that jurisdiction.\n\n(4) The regulations may prescribe circumstances in which an order made in a participating jurisdiction is taken, for the purposes of this Act, to be an order that addresses a domestic violence concern.\n\n##### 10. Special provisions for foreign orders\n\n(1) For the purpose of this Act, a registered foreign order —\n\n(a) is taken to be made in the jurisdiction in which it is registered as a registered foreign order; and\n\n(b) is taken to be made when it becomes a registered foreign order in that jurisdiction.\n\n(2) A registered foreign order is varied or cancelled, for the purpose of this Act, if its registration as a registered foreign order is varied or cancelled.\n\n(3) A power conferred by this Act to vary or cancel a registered foreign order is a power to vary or cancel registration of the order as a registered foreign order.\n\n## Part 2 — National Recognition of DVOs\n\n### Division 1 — General Principles\n\n##### 11. Recognition of DVOs\n\n(1) Each of the following DVOs is a recognised DVO —\n\n(a) a local DVO;\n\n(b) an interstate DVO made in a participating jurisdiction;\n\n(c) a foreign order that is a registered foreign order in a participating jurisdiction.\n\nNote for this subsection:\n\nRecognition can also extend to DVOs made in jurisdictions that are not, or are not yet, participating jurisdictions. See Part 6.\n\n(2) A DVO becomes a recognised DVO when it is made.\n\nNote for this subsection:\n\nA foreign order is taken to be made when it is registered as a registered foreign order.\n\n(3) A DVO is a recognised DVO, subject to this Act, for the period for which it remains in force in the jurisdiction in which it is made.\n\n##### 12. Variations to DVO\n\n(1) A variation to a recognised DVO that is done in this or another jurisdiction is a recognised variation in this jurisdiction in the circumstances provided for by this section.\n\n(2) A variation to a local DVO is a recognised variation in this jurisdiction if the variation is done —\n\n(a) in this jurisdiction by a court or any other person authorised to do so under the *Restraining Orders Act 1997*; or\n\n(b) in another participating jurisdiction by a court under a corresponding law.\n\n(3) A variation to an interstate DVO or foreign order is a recognised variation in this jurisdiction if the variation is done —\n\n(a) in the issuing jurisdiction by a court or any other person authorised to do so under the law of the issuing jurisdiction; or\n\n(b) in a participating jurisdiction by a court under this Act or a corresponding law.\n\nNote for this subsection:\n\nThe issuing jurisdiction for a foreign order is the jurisdiction in which the order is registered.\n\n(4) A variation is recognised from the time that it is made.\n\n##### 13. Cancellation of recognised DVO\n\n(1) A DVO ceases to be a recognised DVO if the DVO is cancelled in this or another jurisdiction and that cancellation is recognised in this jurisdiction.\n\n(2) A cancellation of a local DVO is recognised in this jurisdiction if the cancellation is done —\n\n(a) in this jurisdiction by a court under the *Restraining Orders Act 1997*; or\n\n(b) in another participating jurisdiction by a court under a corresponding law.\n\n(3) A cancellation of an interstate DVO or foreign order is recognised in this jurisdiction if the cancellation is done —\n\n(a) in the issuing jurisdiction by a court or any other person authorised to do so under the law of the issuing jurisdiction; or\n\n(b) in a participating jurisdiction by a court under this Act or a corresponding law.\n\n(4) The DVO ceases to be a recognised DVO from the time it is cancelled.\n\n##### 14. Recognised DVO prevails over earlier comparable DVOs\n\n(1) A recognised DVO that is enforceable against a person bound by the DVO in this jurisdiction (a new DVO) supersedes —\n\n(a) a comparable recognised DVO made earlier than the new DVO; and\n\n(b) a comparable local DVO made earlier than the new DVO (whether or not the local DVO is a recognised DVO).\n\n(2) The earlier comparable DVO is superseded from the time the recognised DVO becomes enforceable against the person bound by the DVO.\n\n(3) A recognised DVO that is superseded ceases to be a recognised DVO.\n\n(4) A local DVO that is superseded is cancelled.\n\n(5) A DVO is not superseded to the extent that it relates to a protected person who is not a protected person under the new DVO.\n\n(6) Accordingly, a DVO continues to be a recognised DVO, and to have effect, to the extent that it relates to a person who is not a protected person under the new DVO.\n\n(7) A DVO made by a police officer does not supersede a comparable DVO made by a court (of any jurisdiction).\n\n(8) A DVO is comparable with another DVO if —\n\n(a) the DVOs are made against the same person; and\n\n(b) the DVOs are made for the protection of one or more of the same protected persons.\n\n##### 15. Making of new orders\n\nNothing in this Act prevents a person from applying for, or an issuing authority from making, a local DVO even though there is a recognised DVO in force that applies to the same person.\n\n### Division 2 — Enforcement of recognised DVOs\n\n##### 16. Recognised DVOs and variations are enforceable against person bound\n\n(1) A recognised DVO, or a recognised variation to a recognised DVO, is enforceable against the person bound by the DVO in this jurisdiction.\n\n(2) A recognised DVO that is a local DVO becomes enforceable against the person bound by the DVO in this jurisdiction when the person is properly notified of the making of the DVO under the law of this jurisdiction.\n\n(3) A recognised DVO that is a non‑local DVO (other than a foreign order) becomes enforceable against a person in this jurisdiction when the person is properly notified of the making of the DVO under the law of the jurisdiction in which the DVO was made.\n\n(4) A recognised DVO that is a foreign order becomes enforceable against a person in this jurisdiction from the time it becomes a recognised DVO.\n\n(5) A recognised variation to a recognised DVO becomes enforceable against the person in this jurisdiction when the person is properly notified of the variation under the law of the jurisdiction in which the variation is done.\n\n##### 17. Properly notified\n\n(1) The making of a local DVO is properly notified under the law of this jurisdiction if the DVO is served on the person bound by the DVO in accordance with the *Restraining Orders Act 1997*.\n\n(2) The making of an interstate DVO is properly notified under the law of the jurisdiction in which it is made in the circumstances provided for by the corresponding law of that jurisdiction.\n\n(3) A variation to a recognised DVO that is done in this jurisdiction is properly notified under the law of this jurisdiction if the variation is served on the person bound by the recognised DVO in accordance with the *Restraining Orders Act 1997*.\n\n(4) A variation to a recognised DVO that is done in another jurisdiction is properly notified under the law of that jurisdiction in the circumstances provided for by the corresponding law of that jurisdiction.\n\n##### 18. Contravention of enforceable recognised DVO\n\n(1) A non‑local DVO that is a recognised DVO and which is enforceable against a person in this jurisdiction may be enforced in this jurisdiction —\n\n(a) as if it were a local DVO; and\n\n(b) as if the person had been properly notified of the making of the DVO under the law of this jurisdiction.\n\n(2) A recognised variation to a non‑local DVO that is a recognised DVO and which is enforceable in this jurisdiction may be enforced in this jurisdiction as if it were a variation to a local DVO.\n\n(3) A recognised variation to a recognised DVO made in another jurisdiction that is enforceable against the person in this jurisdiction may be enforced as if the person had been properly notified of the variation under the law of this jurisdiction.\n\n(4) This section does not affect any law of this jurisdiction that requires a territorial nexus to exist between this jurisdiction and an offence for a person to be guilty of an offence under the law of this jurisdiction.\n\n### Division 3 — Enforcement of non‑local DVOs\n\n##### 19. Non‑local DVO to be treated as local DVO\n\n(1) A recognised DVO that is a non‑local DVO has the same effect in this jurisdiction as a local DVO.\n\n(2) A prohibition, restriction or condition imposed by a non‑local DVO has the same meaning as it would have in the jurisdiction in which the DVO was made, but may be enforced in this jurisdiction as if it were a prohibition, restriction or condition of a local DVO.\n\n##### 20. Licences, permits and other authorisations\n\n(1) In this section —\n\nauthorisation includes a licence or permit;\n\ngrant includes issue.\n\n(2) A law of this jurisdiction (a relevant law) that restricts the grant of an authorisation, or that authorises or requires an authorisation to be suspended or cancelled, if a person is or has been subject to a local DVO extends to a person who is or has been subject to a non‑local DVO that is a recognised DVO (as if the non‑local DVO were a local DVO).\n\n(3) For the purposes of a relevant law —\n\n(a) a non‑local DVO that is a final DVO is to be treated in the same way as a local DVO that is a final DVO; and\n\n(b) a non‑local DVO that is an interim DVO is to be treated in the same way as a local DVO that is an interim DVO.\n\n##### 21. Recognition of disqualification to hold firearms licence\n\n(1) In this section —\n\nCommissioner of Police means the person holding or acting in the officer of Commissioner of Police under the *Police Act 1892*;\n\nlocal firearms licence means a licence, permit or approval under the *Firearms Act 2024*;\n\nnon‑local firearms licence means a licence, permit or other authorisation to possess a firearm (as defined in the *Firearms Act 2024* section 6) issued under the law of another jurisdiction or country.\n\n(2) If a non‑local DVO that is a recognised DVO disqualifies a person from holding a non‑local firearms licence, or type of non‑local firearms licence, the person is also disqualified from holding a local firearms licence or local firearms licence of the same type (as the case requires).\n\n(3) The Commissioner of Police must cancel any local firearms licence held by a person, or refuse to issue a local firearms licence to a person, if the person is so disqualified from holding the firearms licence by a recognised DVO.\n\n(4) A recognised DVO disqualifies a person from holding a non‑local firearms licence or type of non‑local firearms licence if the DVO expressly —\n\n(a) disqualifies the person from holding a non‑local firearms licence or type of non‑local firearms licence; or\n\n(b) cancels or requires the person to surrender a non‑local firearms licence or type of non‑local firearms licence held by the person.\n\n[Section 21 amended: No. 23 of 2024 s. 467.]\n\n##### 22. Order for costs\n\n(1) A non‑local DVO, to the extent that it requires the payment of money, cannot be enforced in this jurisdiction.\n\n(2) The recognition of a DVO made in another jurisdiction does not confer power on a court or tribunal of this jurisdiction to award costs in respect of any proceedings relating to the DVO that occurred in another jurisdiction.\n\n(3) This section does not prevent a court or tribunal awarding costs in respect of any proceedings in this jurisdiction relating to the variation or cancellation of a recognised DVO.\n\n## Part 3 — Variation and cancellation of recognised non‑local DVOs\n\n##### 23. Term used: court\n\nIn this Part —\n\ncourt means a court of this jurisdiction that has power to make local DVOs.\n\n##### 24. Power of court to vary or cancel recognised non‑local DVOs\n\n(1) A court may vary or cancel a recognised DVO that is a non‑local DVO in accordance with this Part as if the DVO were a local DVO.\n\n(2) A court cannot vary or cancel a non‑local DVO if it is a kind of DVO that cannot be varied or cancelled by a court in the jurisdiction in which the DVO was made.\n\n(3) A variation to or cancellation of a recognised DVO that is done under this Part is not limited in its operation to this jurisdiction.\n\n(4) This Part does not apply to the variation or cancellation of a foreign order that is registered as a registered foreign order in this jurisdiction.\n\n(5) To avoid doubt, if a court varies a recognised DVO that was made in another jurisdiction, the other jurisdiction continues to be treated, for the purpose of this Act, as the jurisdiction in which the DVO was made.\n\n##### 25. Application for variation or cancellation of recognised non‑local DVO\n\n(1) An application for the variation or cancellation of a recognised DVO that is a non‑local DVO may be made to a court as if it were an application for variation or cancellation of a local DVO by a person who would be able to make the application if the DVO were a local DVO.\n\n(2) An application —\n\n(a) is to be made to a court that would have power to hear the application if the DVO were a local DVO; and\n\n(b) is to be made in accordance with any requirements that would apply if the DVO were a local DVO; and\n\n(c) may be dealt with (subject to this Part) as if the DVO were a local DVO.\n\n##### 26. Decision about hearing of application\n\n(1) In this section —\n\nrespondent to an application for variation or cancellation of a non‑local DVO means —\n\n(a) in the case of an application made by the person bound by the DVO, the protected person under the DVO; and\n\n(b) in any other case, the person bound by the DVO.\n\n(2) A court that deals with an application for variation or cancellation of a non‑local DVO may decide to hear the application or decline to hear the application.\n\n(3) In making that decision, the court may consider the following matters (to the extent relevant) —\n\n(a) the jurisdiction in which the person bound by the DVO and the protected person under the DVO generally reside or are employed;\n\n(b) any difficulty the respondent to the proceedings may have in attending the proceedings;\n\n(c) whether there is sufficient information available to the court in relation to the DVO and the basis on which it was made;\n\n(d) whether any proceedings are being taken in respect of an alleged contravention of the DVO and the jurisdiction in which those proceedings are being taken;\n\n(e) the practicality of the applicant (if not the person bound by the DVO) applying for and obtaining a local DVO against the person with similar prohibitions or restrictions;\n\n(f) the impact of the application on children;\n\n(g) any other matters the court considers relevant.\n\n(4) Without limiting the court’s power to decline to hear an application, the court may decline to hear the application if the court is satisfied that there has been no material change in the circumstances on which the making of the order was based and that the application is in the nature of an appeal against the order.\n\n(5) For the purpose of exercising its functions under this Part, a court may have regard to any information that the court considers relevant about the making or variation of the DVO that is provided by an issuing authority of another jurisdiction.\n\nNote for this subsection:\n\nPart 4 enables the court to obtain information about DVOs from other jurisdictions.\n\n(6) A court must refuse to hear an application for variation or cancellation made by the person during any period in which, under the law of the issuing jurisdiction for the DVO, the person is not entitled to apply for the variation or cancellation of the DVO in the issuing jurisdiction.\n\n## Part 4 — Exchange of information\n\n##### 27. Issuing authorities may obtain DVO information\n\nAn issuing authority of this jurisdiction may obtain information about a DVO from an issuing authority of another jurisdiction, or from a local or interstate law enforcement agency, and use that information for the purpose of exercising its functions under this Act.\n\n##### 28. Issuing authorities must provide DVO information\n\n(1) An issuing authority of this jurisdiction that makes, varies or cancels a DVO must provide to a court of another participating jurisdiction any information about the DVO that the court reasonably requests for the purpose of exercising its functions under a corresponding law.\n\n(2) An issuing authority of this jurisdiction that makes, varies or cancels a DVO must provide to a local or interstate law enforcement agency any information about the DVO that the law enforcement agency reasonably requests for the purpose of exercising its law enforcement functions.\n\n##### 29. Law enforcement agencies may obtain DVO information\n\nA local law enforcement agency may obtain information about a DVO from an issuing authority of this or another jurisdiction, or from an interstate law enforcement agency, and use that information for the purpose of exercising its law enforcement functions.\n\n##### 30. Information to be provided to law enforcement agencies\n\nA local law enforcement agency must provide to an interstate law enforcement agency any information it holds about a DVO that the interstate law enforcement agency reasonably requests for the purpose of exercising its law enforcement functions.\n\n##### 31. DVO information obtained from, or provided to, prescribed persons or bodies\n\n(1) In this section —\n\nDVO information means information about a DVO;\n\nprescribed person or body means a person or body prescribed in the regulations.\n\n(2) An issuing authority of this jurisdiction or a local law enforcement agency may for the purposes of exercising its functions under this Act do any of the following —\n\n(a) obtain DVO information from a prescribed person or body;\n\n(b) use DVO information obtained under paragraph (a);\n\n(c) provide DVO information to a prescribed person or body.\n\n## Part 5 — Miscellaneous\n\n##### 32. Certificate of evidence — notification\n\n(1) In this section —\n\nauthorised officer of another jurisdiction means a person (whether or not designated as an authorised officer) who is authorised under the law of another jurisdiction to issue a certificate certifying that the making or variation of a DVO has been properly notified under the law of that jurisdiction;\n\nauthorised officer of this jurisdiction means —\n\n(a) a registrar of a court of this jurisdiction; or\n\n(b) a police officer of this jurisdiction of or above the rank of sergeant; or\n\n(c) a person —\n\n(i) employed or engaged in the department of the Public Service principally assisting the Minister in the administration of the *Police Act 1892*; and\n\n(ii) approved by the Commissioner of Police for the purposes of this definition.\n\n(2) An authorised officer of this jurisdiction may issue a certificate in writing certifying any of the following matters —\n\n(a) that the making of a local DVO has been properly notified under the law of this jurisdiction;\n\n(b) that a variation to a DVO that was done in this jurisdiction has been properly notified under the law of this jurisdiction.\n\n(3) The certificate is admissible in evidence in any proceedings and is evidence of the matters certified.\n\n(4) A certificate in writing purporting to be signed by an authorised officer of another jurisdiction and certifying any of the following matters is admissible in evidence in any proceedings and is evidence of the matters certified —\n\n(a) that the making of a DVO in that jurisdiction has been properly notified under the law of that jurisdiction;\n\n(b) that a variation to a DVO that was done in that jurisdiction has been properly notified under the law of that jurisdiction.\n\n(5) In any document, the words “authorised officer” after a signature are evidence that the person whose signature it purports to be is in fact an authorised officer.\n\n##### 33. Regulations\n\nThe Governor may make regulations prescribing matters —\n\n(a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or\n\n(b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for giving effect to the purposes of this Act.\n\n##### 34. Review of Act\n\n(1) The Minister must carry out a review of the operation and effectiveness of this Act as soon as is practicable after the 3rd anniversary of the day on which this section comes into operation.\n\n(2) The Minister must prepare a report based on the review and, as soon as is practicable after the report is prepared, cause it to be laid before each House of Parliament.\n\n## Part 6 — Transitional provisions\n\n### Division 1 — Preliminary\n\n##### 35. Term used: commencement day\n\nIn this Part —\n\ncommencement day means the day on which this Part comes into operation.\n\n##### 36. Enforcement of DVOs under other provisions\n\n(1) Subject to subsection (3), this Act does not affect the enforceability in this jurisdiction, otherwise than under this Act, of a local DVO made before the commencement day.\n\n(2) Subject to subsection (3), this Act does not affect the enforceability in this jurisdiction, otherwise than under this Act, of —\n\n(a) an interstate DVO registered in this jurisdiction, before the commencement day, under the *Restraining Orders Act 1997* Part 7; or\n\n(b) a foreign order registered in this jurisdiction, before the commencement day, under the *Restraining Orders Act 1997* Part 7A.\n\n(3) However, a DVO made in this jurisdiction before the commencement day can be superseded under section 14, on or after the commencement day, by a recognised DVO that is made later.\n\n### Division 2 — DVOs to which scheme applies\n\n##### 37. DVOs made in this jurisdiction\n\nPart 2 applies to any of the following made on or after the commencement day —\n\n(a) a local DVO made in this jurisdiction;\n\n(b) a foreign order taken under section 10(1)(a) to have been made in this jurisdiction.\n\n##### 38. DVOs made in other jurisdictions\n\n(1) Part 2 applies to a DVO made in another participating jurisdiction that is a recognised DVO in that jurisdiction under the corresponding law for that jurisdiction.\n\n(2) To avoid doubt, section 11 extends to the following DVOs —\n\n(a) an interstate DVO that was made in another participating jurisdiction before the commencement day that is a recognised DVO in that jurisdiction;\n\n(b) a foreign order that became a registered foreign order in another participating jurisdiction before the commencement day that is a recognised DVO in that jurisdiction.\n\n(3) Sections 12 and 13 extend to a variation or cancellation of a DVO referred to in subsection (2), that was done in a participating jurisdiction before the commencement day, as if the DVO were a recognised DVO.\n\n(4) However, a non‑local DVO, and any variation to a non‑local DVO, does not become enforceable against the person bound by the DVO in this jurisdiction, under this Act, until the commencement day (even if the making of the DVO, or variation, was properly notified before that day).\n\n### Division 3 — Extension of scheme to older DVOs\n\n##### 39. DVOs declared to be recognised DVOs\n\n(1) Each of the following DVOs is also taken to be a recognised DVO —\n\n(a) a DVO that is declared by a court of this jurisdiction to be a recognised DVO in this jurisdiction under Division 4;\n\n(b) a DVO that is declared by a court of another participating jurisdiction to be a recognised DVO in that jurisdiction under a corresponding law.\n\n(2) A recognised DVO referred to in subsection (1) becomes enforceable against the person in this jurisdiction, under this Act, when the declaration is made (despite section 16).\n\n##### 40. DVOs declared to be recognised in other jurisdictions before commencement day\n\n(1) To avoid doubt, section 39 extends to a DVO declared by a court of another participating jurisdiction to be a recognised DVO before the commencement day.\n\n(2) Sections 12 and 13 extend to any variation or cancellation of a DVO referred to in subsection (1), that was done in a participating jurisdiction before the commencement day, as if the DVO were a recognised DVO.\n\n(3) However, the DVO, and any variation to the DVO, does not become enforceable against the person in this jurisdiction, under this Act, until the commencement day.\n\n### Division 4 — Power to declare DVO to be recognised\n\n##### 41. Power to declare DVO to be recognised\n\n(1) A court may, by order, declare a DVO made in any jurisdiction to be a recognised DVO in this jurisdiction.\n\n(2) A declaration may be made in relation to a DVO made in any jurisdiction that is in force in the issuing jurisdiction and is not a recognised DVO in this jurisdiction.\n\n(3) The jurisdiction in which the DVO was made does not have to be a participating jurisdiction.\n\n(4) A court must make a declaration under this section if an application for the declaration is made in accordance with this Division, unless the court decides to refuse to make the declaration in the interests of justice.\n\n(5) Without limiting subsection (4), the court may refuse to make the declaration if the court is not satisfied that the person bound by the DVO has been properly notified of the making of the DVO under the law of the jurisdiction in which the DVO was made.\n\nNote for this subsection:\n\nUnder section 39, the DVO becomes enforceable against the person when the declaration is made. Notice of the declaration is not to be served on the person unless the person making the application consents to service.\n\n(6) However, a court cannot declare a general violence order to be a recognised DVO in this jurisdiction unless the general violence order was made in this jurisdiction.\n\n(7) Notice of a declaration is not to be served on the person bound by the DVO unless the person who makes the application consents to service.\n\nNote for this subsection:\n\nUnder section 10, a foreign order is taken to be made in any jurisdiction in which it is registered as a registered foreign order. Accordingly, this section extends to registered foreign orders.\n\n##### 42. Application for order\n\n(1) An application for a declaration that a DVO is a recognised DVO in this jurisdiction may be made by a person who would be able to make an application for variation of the DVO if the DVO were a recognised DVO.\n\n(2) The application must —\n\n(a) be made in a form approved by the court; and\n\n(b) be accompanied by any information or evidence the court requires.\n\nNote for this subsection:\n\nIt is only necessary to make an application in one participating jurisdiction. Under section 39, once a declaration is made in any participating jurisdiction the DVO will be treated as a recognised DVO in all participating jurisdictions.\n\n(3) Notice of the application is not to be served on the person bound by the DVO.\n\n(4) The application must be determined in the absence of the person bound by the DVO.\n\n##### 43. Declarations relating to general violence orders\n\n(1) An application for a declaration that a general violence order is a recognised DVO may be made as if the order were a DVO.\n\n(2) Before making the declaration, the court must decide whether the order addresses a domestic violence concern (and, accordingly, is a DVO).\n\n(3) The court is not to make the declaration unless the court decides that the order addresses a domestic violence concern.\n\n(4) Notice of the application is not to be served on the person bound by the order.\n\n(5) The application must be determined in the absence of the person bound by the order.\n\n## Part 7 — *Restraining Orders Act 1997* amended\n\n##### 44. Act amended\n\nThis Part amends the *Restraining Orders Act 1997*.\n\n##### 45. Section 3 amended\n\nIn section 3 in the definition of ***application*** delete “this Act;” and insert:\n\nthis Act or the *Domestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017*;\n\n##### 46. Section 8 amended\n\nAfter section 8(1)(h) insert:\n\n(ha) if the order is an FVRO, the effect of the *Domestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017*;\n\n##### 47. Sections 74A and 74B inserted\n\nAfter section 74 insert:\n\n74A. Interstate DVOs under *Domestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017* cannot be registered\n\n(1) An application cannot be made under section 75 in respect of an interstate order that is an interstate DVO as defined in the *Domestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017* section 6.\n\n(2) To avoid doubt, subsection (1) applies whether the interstate DVO was made before, on or after the day on which the *Domestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017* section 47 comes into operation.\n\n74B. Interstate orders registered before commencement of *Domestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017*\n\n(1) This section applies to an interstate order that, immediately before the day on which the *Domestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017* section 47 comes into operation, is registered under this Part.\n\n(2) Unless subsection (4) applies, the registration of the order is not affected by the *Domestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017* and this Part continues to apply in respect of the order.\n\n(3) The order is not a local DVO for the purposes of the *Domestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017*.\n\n(4) If, under the *Domestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017*, the order becomes a recognised DVO in Western Australia —\n\n(a) the order ceases to be registered under this Part; and\n\n(b) that Act applies to the order in the same way as it applies to another recognised DVO that, under that Act, is a non‑local DVO.\n\n![]()\n\nNotes\n\nThis is a compilation of the *Domestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017* and includes amendments made by other written laws. For provisions that have come into operation see the compilation table.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Short title** | **Number and year** | **Assent** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| *Domestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017* | 10 of 2017 | 8 Nov 2017 | s. 1 and 2: 8 Nov 2017 (see s. 2(b));   Act other than s. 1 and 2: 25 Nov 2017 (see s. 2(b) and *Gazette* 24 Nov 2017 p. 5671) |\n| *Firearms Act 2024* Pt. 17 Div. 3 Subdiv. 9 | 23 of 2024 | 27 Jun 2024 | 31 Mar 2025 (see s. 2(d) and SL 2024/289 cl. 2) |\n\n\nDefined terms\n\n*[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]*\n\n**Defined term Provision(s)**\n\nauthorisation 20(1)\n\nauthorised officer 32(1)\n\ncancel 4(1)\n\ncommencement day 35\n\nCommissioner of Police 21(1)\n\ncorresponding law 4(1)\n\ncourt 4(1), 23\n\ndomestic violence concern 4(1), 9(1), (2), (3) and (4)\n\nDVO 4(1)\n\nDVO information 31(1)\n\nfinal DVO 4(1)\n\nforeign order 4(1)\n\nformer RO Act 4(1)\n\ngeneral violence order 4(1), 8\n\ngrant 20(1)\n\ninterim DVO 4(1)\n\ninterstate DVO 4(1), 6(1)\n\ninterstate law enforcement agency 4(1)\n\nissuing authority 4(1)\n\nissuing jurisdiction 4(1)\n\njurisdiction 4(1)\n\nlocal DVO 4(1), 5(1)\n\nlocal firearms licence 21(1)\n\nlocal law enforcement agency 4(1)\n\nmake 4(1)\n\nnew DVO 14(1)\n\nNew Zealand DVO 4(1)\n\nnon‑local DVO 4(1)\n\nnon‑local firearms licence 21(1)\n\nparticipating jurisdiction 4(1)\n\nperson bound 4(1)\n\nprescribed person or body 31(1)\n\nproperly notified 4(1), 17(1), (2), (3) and (4)\n\nprotected person 4(1)\n\nrecognised DVO 4(1), 11(1)\n\nrecognised variation 4(1)\n\nregistered foreign order 4(1), 7\n\nrelevant law 20(2)\n\nrespondent 26(1)\n\nvary 4(1)\n\n© State of Western Australia 2025.\n\nThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0). To view relevant information and for a link to a copy of the licence, visit www.legislation.wa.gov.au.\n\nAttribute work as: © State of Western Australia 2025.\n\nBy Authority: GEOFF O. LAWN, Government Printer\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on available contextual information, the Act appears to have remained consistent with its original intent — establishing mutual recognition of domestic violence orders across Australian states and territories. No scope changes can be confirmed or denied due to the source legislation being unavailable."},"complexity_factors":["Involves intergovernmental cooperation and harmonisation across multiple Australian jurisdictions","Requires understanding of how state-based court orders interact with a national recognition framework","Definitions of 'domestic violence order' may vary between jurisdictions, creating potential ambiguity","Enforcement mechanisms involve coordination between police forces from different states","Variation and cancellation of orders across jurisdictions adds procedural complexity","No actual legislative text was available for analysis, limiting precision of assessment","Interaction with existing state family violence legislation creates a layered legal framework"],"plain_english_summary":"This Act makes domestic violence protection orders (DVOs) recognised and enforceable across all Australian states and territories, closing a gap where an order from one jurisdiction might not be effective in another. It aims to ensure continuous legal protection when victims or respondents cross state borders.\n\nIt primarily affects victims, police, courts and people subject to orders. Note: the Act’s full text wasn’t available for review; this summary reflects its known national-recognition purpose."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act shifts recognition from a registration‑based model to automatic national recognition for DVOs from participating jurisdictions and certain registered foreign orders (ss.11,10). It removes the option to register interstate DVOs under the former registration mechanism (Restraining Orders Act amendments, s.74A) while giving courts power to declare orders from non‑participating jurisdictions recognised (ss.41–43). It also expands administrative effects—enforceability timing, information‑sharing duties, and extension of disqualifications to local licences including firearms (ss.16–18,27–31,20–21)—and contains transitional rules for pre‑existing registrations (ss.36,38,74B)."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive cross‑jurisdictional interaction and dependence on corresponding laws in other jurisdictions (definition of corresponding law and participating jurisdiction; s.4, s.11).","Detailed rules on when a non‑local DVO becomes enforceable tied to differing notification regimes (s.16–18).","Treatment of non‑local DVOs as local for enforcement and operation, but preserving original territorial meanings and exceptions (s.19, s.22(4)).","Interplay with licensing and regulatory regimes, including automatic extension of disqualification to local authorisations and mandatory cancellation/refusal of firearms licences (s.20–21).","Court powers and discretions to vary/cancel non‑local DVOs and to refuse hearings (s.24–26), plus a declaratory power to recognise orders from non‑participating jurisdictions (s.41–43).","Obligations and pathways for information exchange between issuing authorities and law enforcement with prescribed persons/bodies (s.27–31, s.31).","Transitional and savings provisions that preserve or convert previously registered orders and limit registration of interstate orders (Div.6, ss.36–43; amendments s.74A–74B).","Reliance on regulations for definitions and scope (interim DVOs, prescribed orders, prescribed persons), increasing delegated rule‑making and potential implementation variation (s.4, s.33)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act makes domestic violence orders (DVOs) made in other participating Australian jurisdictions (and certain registered foreign orders) automatically recognised and enforceable in Western Australia, so they operate like local orders across borders. It affects persons bound by orders, protected persons, police, courts and licensing authorities (including firearms licensing), because it changes when orders take effect, how they can be varied or cancelled, and the information-sharing and notification processes that officials must follow (see ss.11,16–18,20–21)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose of implementing national recognition of domestic violence orders. While it includes detailed transitional provisions and consequential amendments to the Restraining Orders Act 1997, these are necessary implementation mechanisms rather than scope creep. The inclusion of firearms provisions (s.21) and general violence orders (s.8, s.43) represents necessary coverage of related protective orders rather than expansion beyond the core scheme."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple overlapping definitions of DVO types (local, interstate, foreign, registered foreign, general violence orders) with subtle distinctions in sections 5-9","Extensive cross-referencing to the Restraining Orders Act 1997 and 'corresponding laws' of other jurisdictions that are not defined in detail","Complex conditional enforcement rules in sections 16-18 distinguishing between local, interstate, and foreign orders with different notification requirements","Nested exceptions and special rules for firearms (s.21), costs (s.22), and general violence orders (s.43) that create parallel but distinct treatment","Transitional provisions in Part 6 creating different rules for pre-commencement orders, registered orders, and declarations with multiple cut-off dates","Discretionary court powers in Part 3 (vary/cancel) requiring consideration of 7+ factors plus catch-all 'interests of justice' provisions","Special procedural rules for ex parte applications (without the respondent present) in s.42 and s.43 regarding declarations"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis law creates a **national recognition scheme** for domestic violence orders (DVOs) in Western Australia. It means that if someone gets a domestic violence protection order in one Australian state or territory (or New Zealand), it will automatically be recognised and enforceable in WA—and vice versa. Before this law, victims had to register their interstate orders separately in each state, which caused dangerous gaps in protection.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n- **Victims of domestic violence** who move between states or need protection when travelling\n- **People bound by orders** (the respondents)—they must obey DVOs from other jurisdictions as if they were made in WA\n- **Police and courts**—they can enforce, vary, or cancel interstate orders using local processes\n- **Firearms licensing authorities**—interstate DVOs that ban guns automatically apply to WA gun licences too\n\n**Key features:**\n\n- **Automatic recognition**: Interstate DVOs become \"recognised DVOs\" immediately when made—no registration needed\n- **Enforcement**: Police can arrest someone for breaching an interstate DVO just like a local one\n- **Variation/cancellation**: WA courts can modify interstate orders, but must consider practical factors like where the parties live\n- **Firearms bans**: If an interstate order disqualifies someone from holding a gun licence, WA must cancel their local licence too\n- **Information sharing**: Courts and police can share DVO data across borders\n- **Backwards compatibility**: Covers older orders made before the law started, plus orders from non-participating jurisdictions via special declarations\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nDomestic violence doesn't stop at state borders, but legal protection used to. This law closes that loophole, ensuring consistent protection for victims nationwide and consistent consequences for perpetrators, regardless of where the original order was made."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/domestic-violence-orders-national-recognition-act-2017","history":"/api/acts/domestic-violence-orders-national-recognition-act-2017/history","analysis":"/api/acts/domestic-violence-orders-national-recognition-act-2017/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/domestic-violence-orders-national-recognition-act-2017/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/domestic-violence-orders-national-recognition-act-2017/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/domestic-violence-orders-national-recognition-act-2017/documents"}}