❓ A parliamentary question addresses concerns about the reliability of GPS monitoring for domestic violence offenders in regional WA, and the government's response highlights statewide implementation and reliance on mobile signals, while emphasizing that high-risk offenders should remain in custody.
AnsweredQoN 943Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the operation of GPS monitoring for repeat and serious domestic violence offenders subject to the Family Violence Legislation Reform Act 2024 and reports that monitoring devices don't function reliably in areas outside of the Perth metropolitan area, and I ask, for regional Western Australia, broken down by police district: (a) what GPS or electronic monitoring currently exists; (b) what are the known limitations or coverage gaps; (c) when were these limitations in (b) first formally identified; and (d) what temporary measures are in place to manage offenders released into areas without functioning GPS coverage?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 February 2026
Responded by
Minister for the Environment representing the Minister for Corrective Services
Response time
8 days
(a) Since the commencement of the Act in December 2024, electronic monitoring (EM) has been imposed statewide including in regional locations.
(b) If the courts decide bail is suitable, electronic monitoring is an additional tool to monitor serial FDV offenders. The devices rely on mobile telecommunications signal. Offenders who pose a significant to risk to the community should remain locked up.
(c) The devices rely on mobile telecommunications signal.
(d) Electronic monitoring is available across the whole state of Western Australia and is one of a range of measures available under the Family Violence Legislation Reform Act 2024 to strengthen community safety. All individuals subject to electronic monitoring, including in regional Western Australia, are monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by Department of Justice staff alongside police at the State Operations Command Centre, with any issues responded to by police at all times. Offenders who pose a significant risk to the community should remain in custody.
(b) If the courts decide bail is suitable, electronic monitoring is an additional tool to monitor serial FDV offenders. The devices rely on mobile telecommunications signal. Offenders who pose a significant to risk to the community should remain locked up.
(c) The devices rely on mobile telecommunications signal.
(d) Electronic monitoring is available across the whole state of Western Australia and is one of a range of measures available under the Family Violence Legislation Reform Act 2024 to strengthen community safety. All individuals subject to electronic monitoring, including in regional Western Australia, are monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by Department of Justice staff alongside police at the State Operations Command Centre, with any issues responded to by police at all times. Offenders who pose a significant risk to the community should remain in custody.
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