Qld plans new domestic violence laws

QUEENSLAND'S PLANS TO TACKLE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:

HOW:

* Increase penalties for first-time breaches of domestic violence orders to three years jail and subsequent breaches to five years

* Record convictions for domestic violence

* Give victims special witness status so they don't have to be in the same court room as their attacker when giving evidence

* Set up an independent domestic violence death review board to identify systemic issues affecting victims

* Consider making domestic relationships an aggravating factor in violent crime, leading to harsher penalties for perpetrators

WHEN:

* The laws will be introduced to parliament this week and the government wants them to be reviewed by a committee and passed next month

* The government will begin consulting on domestic relationships as an aggravating factor immediately.

(Source: Queensland government)