Hon Lynn MacLaren questions the Minister for Child Protection regarding the inclusion of Tenancy WA's recommendations on domestic violence and tenancy laws in the 'Freedom from Fear' action plan. The Minister acknowledges the question and refers to action 13 of the plan, indicating potential future consideration of Law Reform Commission recommendations.

AnsweredQoN 1023Legislative Council
Asked
17 September 2015
Portfolio
Child Protection

QuestionView source ↗

LAW REFORM COMMISSION — ''ENHANCING
FAMILY ANDDOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAWS'' REPORT — TENANCY WA
SUBMISSION
1023. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the Minister
for Child Protection:
(1) Will the
minister advise how the following recommendations from Tenancy WA's
submission to the Law Reform Commission of WA's project 104 titled ''Enhancing
Family and Domestic Violence Laws'' were addressed in the ''Freedom
from Fear: Working towards the elimination of family and domestic violence in
Western Australia: Action Plan 2015'' —
(a) introduce a mechanism in the
Residential Tenancies Act —
(i) to terminate
a tenant's interest in the lease due to an interim violence restraining
order;
(ii) for victims of domestic violence
to change locks;
(iii) to create a new tenancy; and
(iv) to deal with bond and other
financial matters;
(b) provide procedural protections
in domestic violence–related applications; and
(c) apply all recommendations to
private and public housing tenancies?
(2) If these recommendations were not addressed, please
explain why not.
(3) Will the minister now consider including these reforms in
the DV action plan?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for her interest in this subject as well
as for the question.
(1)–(3)
A range of consultation was considered in the development of the ''Freedom
from Fear: Working towards the elimination of family and domestic violence in
Western Australia: Action Plan 2015''. The need for legislative change
is identified in action 13 of the plan, which states —
Improve access to, and the effectiveness of, the Western Australian
legal system for victims of family and domestic violence
Where appropriate, this will
include progressing recommendations from the Law Reform Commission's
final report.

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