Chapter 2 General amendments
Part 2.2 Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1991
Section 15
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Amendment Bill 2025
Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au
15 Giving of leave to disclose protected confidence1
Section 79H (3) (b) and (c)2
after3
sexual offences4
insert5
and victims of family violence offences6
16 Section 79J7
substitute8
79J Waiver of protected confidence immunity in civil9
proceedings10
(1) This division does not prevent the production, inspection or use of11
protected confidence evidence in a civil proceeding if—12
(a) the production, inspection or use of the evidence is consented to,13
in writing, by—14
(i) if the counselled person who is the subject of the protected15
confidence is at least 14 years old—the counselled person;16
or17
(ii) if the counselled person is under 14 years old—a person18
determined by the court to be a suitable person; and19
(b) the consent expressly relates to the production, inspection or use20
of the evidence; and21
(c) the court is satisfied that the counselled person or, if the22
counselled person is under 14 years old, the suitable person—23
(i) is aware of the effect of this division; and24
(ii) has been given a reasonable opportunity to seek legal25
advice in relation to consenting to the production,26
inspection or use of the evidence.27
General amendments Chapter 2
Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1991 Part 2.2
Section 17
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(2) For subsection (1) (a) (ii), the court may determine that a person is a1
suitable person in relation to a counselled person only if—2
(a) the person is not a party to the proceeding; and3
(b) the court considers the person is able to act in the best interests4
of the counselled person; and5
(c) the court considers that determining the person to be a suitable6
person would not—7
(i) damage the relationship between the suitable person and8
the counselled person; or9
(ii) cause undue embarrassment, humiliation or harm to the10
counselled person.11
79JA No waiver of protected confidence immunity in criminal12
proceedings13
This division applies in a criminal proceeding whether or not a person14
who has made a protected confidence consents or does not object to15
the disclosure of the protected confidence.16
17 Sections 79 to 79M (as amended)17
renumber as sections 98 to 98P18
18 Division 4.4.3 (as amended)19
relocate as chapter 6B20
Chapter 2 General amendments
Part 2.2 Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1991
Section 19
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Amendment Bill 2025
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19 Recorded statement—unrepresented accused person to1
be given access2
Section 81F (2)3
substitute4
(2) The accused person must—5
(a) be given an audio copy of the recorded statement as soon as6
practicable after the proceeding is commenced; and7
(b) return the copy of the recorded statement by giving it to a police8
officer at a police station not later than 16 weeks after the9
proceeding is finalised.10
20 Recorded statement—accused person to be given audio11
copy12
Section 81H (2)13
substitute14
(2) The accused person must—15
(a) be given an audio copy of the recorded statement; and16
(b) return the copy of the recorded statement by giving it to a police17
officer at a police station not later than 16 weeks after the18
proceeding is finalised.19
21 Section 95 heading20
substitute21
95 Definitions—ch 6A22
22 Dictionary, definition of family violence offence23
substitute24
family violence offence—see the Family Violence Act 2016,25
dictionary.26
General amendments Chapter 2
Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1991 Part 2.2
Section 23
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Amendment Bill 2025
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23 Dictionary, new definition of sexual offence1
insert2
sexual offence means an offence against any of the following3
provisions of the Crimes Act 1900:4
(a) part 3 (Sexual offences);5
(b) part 3A (Intimate image abuse);6
(c) part 4 (Female genital mutilation);7
(d) part 5 (Sexual servitude).8
24 Further amendments, mentions of division 4.4.3 heading9
omit10
division 4.4.3 (Sexual and family violence offence proceedings—11
protection of counselling communications)12
substitute13
chapter 6B (Protection of counselling communications about sexual14
and family violence)15
in16
• dictionary, definitions of17
civil proceeding18
counselled person19
counselling20
counsellor21
criminal proceeding22
document recording a protected confidence23
harm24
preliminary criminal proceeding25
Chapter 2 General amendments
Part 2.2 Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1991
Section 25
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Amendment Bill 2025
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proceeding1
protected confidence2
protected confidence evidence3
25 Further amendments, mentions of div 4.4.34
omit5
div 4.4.36
substitute7
ch 6B8
in9
• section 79 heading10
• section 79A heading11
• section 79B heading12
• section 79IB heading13
26 Further amendments, mentions of division14
omit15
division16
substitute17
chapter18
in19
• section 7920
• section 79A21
• section 79B22
• section 79IB23
• section 79J24
• section 79JA25
General amendments Chapter 2
Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1991 Part 2.2
Section 27
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Amendment Bill 2025
page 11
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• section 79K1
• section 79L2
• section 79M3
27 Further amendments, mentions of section 794
omit5
section 796
substitute7
section 988
in9
• dictionary, definitions of10
civil proceeding11
counselling12
counsellor13
criminal proceeding14
document recording a protected confidence15
harm16
preliminary criminal proceeding17
proceeding18
protected confidence evidence19
Chapter 2 General amendments
Part 2.2 Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1991
Section 28
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Amendment Bill 2025
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28 Further amendments, mentions of section 79A1
omit2
section 79A3
substitute4
section 98A5
in6
• section 79, definitions of7
counselled person8
document recording a protected confidence9
protected confidence10
• dictionary, definitions of11
counselled person12
protected confidence13
29 Further amendments, mentions of section 79E14
omit15
section 79E16
substitute17
section 98E18
in19
• section 79F20
General amendments Chapter 2
Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1991 Part 2.2
Section 30
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Amendment Bill 2025
page 13
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30 Further amendments, mentions of section 79F1
omit2
section 79F3
substitute4
section 98F5
in6
• section 79E7
31 Further amendments, mentions of section 79G8
omit9
section 79G10
substitute11
section 98G12
in13
• section 79F14
• section 79H15
32 Further amendments, mentions of section 79IA16
omit17
section 79IA18
substitute19
section 98J20
in21
• section 79E22
• section 79IB23
Chapter 2 General amendments
Part 2.2 Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1991
Section 33
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Amendment Bill 2025
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33 Further amendments, mentions of section 79J1
omit2
section 79J3
substitute4
section 98L5
in6
• section 79D7
General amendments Chapter 2
Family Violence Act 2016 Part 2.3
Section 34
Family, Personal and Sexual Violence Legislation
Amendment Bill 2025
page 15
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Part 2.3 Family Violence Act 20161
34 Offence—contravention of family violence order2
Section 43 (1) (b)3
substitute4
(b) has been served in accordance with this Act with a copy of the5
family violence order.6
Note Service requirements for a family violence order are set out in—7
(a) if the order is a protection order—s 70C; and8
(b) if the order is an after-hours order—s 108.9
35 New division 4.1A10
before division 4.1, insert11
Division 4.1A Preliminary12
44B References to present and present in court13
(1) In this Act, a reference to a person being present in the Magistrates14
Court or present in court includes the person appearing in the court,15
with the court’s leave, by audiovisual link or telephone.16
(2) A person who is present in court in accordance with this section is17
taken to be before the court.18
Note The Magistrates Court Act 1930, s 311, also deals with appearing and19
giving evidence remotely.20
(3) In this section:21
audiovisual link—see the Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions)22
Act 1991, dictionary.23
Chapter 2 General amendments
Part 2.3 Family Violence Act 2016
Section 36
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Amendment Bill 2025
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36 New section 82A (6)1
after the note, insert2
(6) If the application under section 82 is made by the protected person,3
and the protected person was not the applicant for the protection order4
(the original order)—5
(a) a reference in subsection (3) (b) and (4) (b) to the other party is6
also taken to refer to the applicant for the original order; and7
(b) a reference in subsection (5) to the respondent is also taken to8
refer to the applicant for the original order.9
37 Magistrate review of registrar decisions10
New section 91B (6A)11
insert12
(6A) If the applicant requests review of a relevant decision, the relevant13
decision is stayed until the review is heard or the request is14
withdrawn.15
38 Service of after-hours orders16
Section 108 (2)17
omit18
order that the application be served in the way, stated in the order,19
substitute20
make an order for service requiring that the after-hours order be21
served in a way, stated in the order for service,22
General amendments Chapter 2
Family Violence Act 2016 Part 2.3
Section 39
Family, Personal and Sexual Violence Legislation
Amendment Bill 2025
page 17
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39 Interim court-initiated protection order taken to be special1
interim order2
Section 113 (e)3
omit4
section 47 (1) (b)5
substitute6
section 47 (2) to (5)7
40 Section 1568
substitute9
156 Review of Act10
(1) The Minister must—11
(a) review the operation and effectiveness of this Act as soon as12
practicable after the end of 2 years after the day part 2A (Family13
violence safety notices) commences; and14
(b) present a report of the review to the Legislative Assembly within15
12 months after the day the review is started.16
(2) This section expires 5 years after the day it commences.17
Chapter 2 General amendments
Part 2.4 Personal Violence Act 2016
Section 41
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Part 2.4 Personal Violence Act 20161
41 Offence—contravention of protection order2
Section 35 (1) (b)3
substitute4
(b) has been served in accordance with this Act with a copy of the5
protection order.6
Note Service requirements for a protection order are set out in s 64C.7
42 New division 4.1A8
before division 4.1, insert9
Division 4.1A Preliminary10
38B References to present and present in court11
(1) In this Act, a reference to a person being present in the Magistrates12
Court or present in court includes the person appearing in the court,13
with the court’s leave, by audiovisual link or telephone.14
(2) A person who is present in court in accordance with this section is15
taken to be before the court.16
Note The Magistrates Court Act 1930, s 311, also deals with appearing and17
giving evidence remotely.18
(3) In this section:19
audiovisual link—see the Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions)20
Act 1991, dictionary.21
General amendments Chapter 2
Personal Violence Act 2016 Part 2.4
Section 43
Family, Personal and Sexual Violence Legislation
Amendment Bill 2025
page 19
Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au
43 New section 76A (6)1
after the note, insert2
(6) If the application under section 76 is made by the protected person,3
and the protected person was not the applicant for the protection order4
(the original order)—5
(a) a reference in subsection (3) (b) and (4) (b) to the other party is6
also taken to refer to the applicant for the original order; and7
(b) a reference in subsection (5) to the respondent is also taken to8
refer to the applicant for the original order.9
44 Magistrate review of registrar decisions10
New section 83B (6A)11
insert12
(6A) If the applicant requests review of a relevant decision, the relevant13
decision is stayed until the review is heard or the request is14
withdrawn.15
45 Dictionary, definition of protection order, paragraph (a)16
substitute17
(a) means—18
(i) an interim personal protection order; or19
(ii) an interim workplace protection order; or20
(iii) a final personal protection order; or21
(iv) a final workplace protection order; and22
Chapter 3 Family violence safety notices amendments
Part 3.1 Family Violence Act 2016
Division 3.1.1 Family violence safety notices amendments
Section 46
page 20 Family, Personal and Sexual Violence Legislation
Amendment Bill 2025
Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au
Chapter 3 Family violence safety notices1
amendments2
Part 3.1 Family Violence Act 20163
Division 3.1.1 Family violence safety notices4
amendments5
46 New part 2A6
insert7
Part 2A Family violence safety notices8
Division 2A.1 Grounds for issuing family violence9
safety notice10
13B Grounds for issuing family violence safety notice11
A notice (a family violence safety notice) may be issued against a12
person (the respondent) only if—13
(a) there is a risk to an affected person of family violence by the14
respondent; and15
(b) a family violence safety notice is immediately necessary to—16
(i) ensure the safety of the affected person from the violence;17
or18
(ii) prevent substantial damage to the affected person’s19
property; and20
(c) the respondent is an adult; and21
Family violence safety notices amendments Chapter 3
Family Violence Act 2016 Part 3.1
Family violence safety notices amendments Division 3.1.1
Section 46
Family, Personal and Sexual Violence Legislation
Amendment Bill 2025
page 21
Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au
(d) there is no family violence safety notice already in force1
between the respondent and the affected person; and2
Note This includes a family violence safety notice between the parties3
naming the current respondent as the affected person, and the4
current affected person as the respondent.5
(e) the proposed family violence safety notice would not be6
inconsistent with any court order already in force in the ACT7
(other than a bail order).8
Note If a family violence safety notice is inconsistent with a bail order,9
the respondent’s failure to comply with the bail order is taken not10
to be a breach of the bail order (see Bail Act 1992, s 26A.11
Division 2A.2 Application for family violence safety12
notice13
13C Police officer may detain person during application14
period15
(1) This section applies if a police officer—16
(a) considers that the grounds in section 13B for issuing a family17
violence safety notice are satisfied in relation to a person; and18
(b) proposes to apply, or has applied, for a family violence safety19
notice against the person; and20
(c) believes on reasonable grounds that removing and detaining the21
person during the application period—22
(i) is necessary to ensure—23
(A) the safety of an affected person or someone else; or24
(B) that the family violence safety notice, if issued, may25
be immediately served on the person; and26
(ii) is the least restrictive option reasonably available.27