Domestic violence is a pressing issue worldwide, including in Cairns, Australia. It is crucial to recognise that the cycle of abuse can only be broken if perpetrators seek help and rehabilitation. This blog aims to outline resources available in Cairns for individuals who have engaged in domestic violence and want to address their behaviour, make amends, and lead a healthier life. Men's Referral Service (MRS) The Men's Referral Service is a national service available to men who have used or...
Sentencing Approaches Undertaken by the Australian Court In the last five years, the High Court of Australia has heavily criticised sentencing principles that implement an oversimplified approach and place significant weight to broad sentencing ranges and individual factors. As a result of this increased criticism, the court’s approach has slowly shifted to sentencing approaches which implement an order determined on balancing all circumstances of the case to reach a single judgement, as opposed to specific process or components. Historical Approach...
Breaching Domestic Violence Order? What to do? What is a Domestic Violence Order (DVO)? Domestic Violence Order (‘DVO’), also known as “protection” or “restraining” orders are made by the court to prevent domestic violence against the person bringing the application (“the aggrieved”). The imposition of a Domestic Violence Orders will generally impose certain conditions against the person committing the violence (“the respondent”) and prevent any further violence from occurring. Both conditions and the DVO itself are very serious, and any...
Electronic Signatures in Australia In today’s society, most documents used in day-to-day business can now be filled out and signed electronically. The Electronic Transactions (Queensland) Act 2001 (ETA) is the legislation that governs the permitted use of electronic signatures. Although the ETA does not include a comprehensive definition of what constitutes an ‘electronic signature, this term usually encompasses images displaying the person's signature, typed name, or some other form of identification. The courts have previously held that a name, either...
