Bill Shorten, Labor Party leadership hopeful, has pledged to work towards standard laws across Australia for family violence. He said that “there should be common definitions of what constitutes domestic violence across the country.”

Last year incidents of domestic violence in Victoria increased by 20% to 60,829 and Intervention Orders and Family Violence Safety notices increased to 15,543.

Greg Davies, Police Association Secretary, welcomed Mr Shorten’s support against domestic violence.

Fiona McCormack, Domestic Violence Victoria Chief Executive, said the sector needed more funding before new laws.

Libby Davies, White Ribbon Chief Executive, said family violence cost the community $15 billion each year.

James Copsey, spokesman for Victorian Attorney General, said that “the Victorian Coalition Government has introduced tougher penalties for those who breach family violence orders and better help for victims of crime.”

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