Permit victim survivors to give evidence from a place other than the courtroom

The Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) and Court Services Victoria (CSV) have enabled evidence to be given from outside the courtroom. DJCS developed the required legislative amendments and CSV has developed the operational requirements and supports.

The Justice Legislation Amendment (Criminal Procedure Disclosure and Other Matters) Bill 2022 was passed on 15 February 2022 and enables family violence victim survivors to give evidence from a place other than the courtroom by means of remote technology unless they wish to give evidence from the courtroom.

Specifically, the following legislative changes were made:

• The Criminal Procedure Act (2009) now enables family violence victims in criminal proceedings to give evidence from outside of the courtroom in specified circumstances.
• The Family Violence Protection Act (2008) now enables family violence victims in family violence intervention order proceedings to give evidence from outside the courtroom in specified circumstances.

Implemented.