Queensland’s parliamentary is on the verge of enacting controversial legislation that would give police the power to issue immediate domestic violence protection orders, a decision that has sparked criticism from opponents who argue that it would prioritize “police efficiencies over the safety and wellbeing of victim-survivors.”
The proposed bill, the domestic and family violence protection and other legislation amendment bill 2025, introduces “police protection directives” which would carry conditions comparable to those of traditional domestic violence protection orders, without the need for judicial oversight or the consent of the suspected victim before an order is issued.
Police Minister Dan Purdie claims that these changes will save “hundreds of thousands of hours” of police time, a statement that underlines the focus on efficiency. However, the move faces significant resistance, with about 70 submissions, including those from experts and advocacy groups, to a parliamentary inquiry urging the government to reconsider the plan.
Concerns over misidentification, where victims may be wrongly identified as perpetrators, are central to the opposition. According to evidence, approximately 44.4% of women murdered in domestic violence incidents had been misidentified at least once, with Indigenous women facing a grave risk as “nearly all” of those investigated were subsequently identified as perpetrators.
This legislative change is also critiqued for potentially exposing victims to an increased risk of systems abuse, a form of domestic violence where the legal system is used to control a partner. Critics argue that misidentified victims may be compelled to consent to orders due to circumstances such as financial strain or intimidation.
The Queensland Police Union of Employees, however, strongly defends the legislation, citing a decrease in the percentage of women identified as perpetrators and dismissing concerns of misidentification as anecdotal. The union points to improved training and the courts’ tendency to uphold police applications in court as evidence supporting the system’s reliability.
Despite the opposition, including from the Labor party and members of the crossbench, the bill is expected to pass due to the government’s majority in parliament.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/28/queensland-mps-vote-on-controversial-plan-to-give-police-power-to-issue-on-the-spot-domestic-violence-orders
