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Full Stop Australia develops submissions to government inquiries in every Australian jurisdiction to inform policy, practice and law reform impacting upon our clients' safety, justice and wellbeing.

In our consultation processes, we seek feedback from both our frontline trauma specialist counsellors and our clients who have expressed an interest in having their say on the systems and processes impacting upon their own safety.

We do this in partnership with our sector partners, such as the National Association of Services Against Sexual Assault and key state and territory based sexual, domestic and family violence peaks and services who are leading reform efforts in their respective jurisdictions.

Emily Dale is Head of Advocacy and leads the work on all our submissions. If you would like to discuss an issue of policy, practice or law reform, please do not hesitate to contact Emily by email at advocacy@fullstop.org.au

Some of our submissions are subject to cabinet in confidence, but you can access copies of our public submissions below.








Criminal Code (Decriminalising Sex Work) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill, March 2024

(PDF 660kb)

Full Stop Australia thanks the Housing, Big Build and Manufacturing Committee (the Committee) for inviting us to provide input to its inquiry on the Criminal Code (Decriminalising Sex Work) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 (the Bill)(Inquiry).

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Review of Part 4, Division 4 (Sacrilege and housebreaking), March 2024

(PDF 744kb)

Full Stop Australia thanks the Department of Communities and Justice (the Department) for inviting us to provide input on the review of Part 4, Division 4 (Sacrilege and housebreaking) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) (the Crimes Act) (Review).

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Inquiry into the potential for a Human Rights Act for South Australia, February 2024

(PDF 616kb)

Full Stop Australia thanks the Social Development Committee of South Australian Parliament for the opportunity to provide input on its inquiry into the potential for a Human Rights Act for South Australia (Inquiry).

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Review of Sexual Consent Laws in South Australia, February 2024

(PDF 619kb)

Full Stop Australia thanks the South Australian Government for inviting us to comment on the Government’s discussion paper, Review of Sexual Consent Laws in South Australia (Discussion Paper).

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Submission to the Department of Education regarding the Draft Action Plan, January 2024

(PDF 313kb)

Full Stop Australia thanks the Australian Government for providing the opportunity to comment on the Draft Action Plan for Addressing Gender-Based Violence in Higher Education and the design of a National Student Ombudsman.

Full Stop Australia supports the Draft Action Plan. We congratulate the Government on the development of a Plan with the potential to create transformative change for student safety.

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Submission to the Attorney-General's Department regarding a Commonwealth Witness Intermediary Scheme, November 2023

(PDF 313kb)

Full Stop Australia appreciates the opportunity to make a submission on this scoping study to develop a Commonwealth Witness Intermediary Scheme.

Full Stop Australia's submission focuses on the accessibility and operation of witness intermediary schemes, advising on general principles which should guide their development.

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Submission to the COVID-19 Response Inquiry Taskforce, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, October 2023

(PDF 313kb)

Full Stop Australia appreciates the opportunity to make a submission to this important inquiry.

By drawing on Full Stop Australia's previous research undertaken with the National Mental Health Commission, Full Stop Australia speaks to the impacts of COVID-19 on people experiencing SDFV.

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Submission to the Queensland Parliament regarding Coercive Control and Affirmative Consent, October 2023

(PDF 313kb)

Full Stop Australia appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Criminal Law (Coercive Control and Affirmative Consent) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 (Qld).

Full Stop Australia makes several recommendations to the Committee, speaking to mistake of fact, improper questions and jury directions.

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Question on Notice: Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework, October 2023

(PDF 313kb)

Full Stop Australia appreciates the opportunity to be heard in the above Inquiry on 27 September 2023. This is a response to the question we took on notice from Senator Thorpe, which asked what specific protections we would like to see included in a federal Human Rights Act for victims of gender-based crimes, and how we see these intersecting with cultural safety needs.

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Submission to WA Government’s Review of Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Offending, October 2023

(PDF 375kb)

This submission to the WA Government’s responds to Questions 1 to 4 on the Review website, as well as addressing some of the specific issues raised in the four Discussion Papers published on the Review website.
The recommendations in this submission are underpinned by the following principles:
• Maximising victim-survivor autonomy and choice.
• Ensuring victim-survivors are given the right information, in a timely manner, to make informed choices about how to engage with the justice system.
• Understanding trauma and the gendered drivers of sexual violence.
• Increasing practical support, so victim-survivors are supported to engage with the justice system if they choose to do so.

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Preliminary submission on the review of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW), September 2023

(PDF 375kb)

Full Stop Australia thanks the NSW Law Reform Commission for opportunity to make a preliminary submission on the review of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) (Act). Noting that there will be further opportunities to provide feedback on the review, we have limited our preliminary submission to one key issue – the inclusion of “status as a victim-survivor of domestic, family or sexual violence” as a new protected attribute in the Act. We propose that this will do the important work of raising awareness and shaping values in relation to gender-based violence.

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Submission into the worsening rental crisis in Australia, September 2023

(PDF 318kb)

This submission focuses on the impacts of the rental crisis on victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, drawing on Full Stop Australia’s expertise supporting and working with these victim-survivors. This submission talks broadly about housing insecurity, rather than narrowly or exclusively focusing on the rental crisis. This approach acknowledges that, particularly for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, it is not possible to view rental accessibility in a vacuum.

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Question on Notice: Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee Inquiry into current and proposed sexual consent laws in Australia, July 2023

(PDF 237kb)

Full Stop Australia appreciates the opportunity to be heard in the above Inquiry on 25 July 2023. This is a response to a question we took on notice about the eight guiding principles set out in the Law Council of Australia’s submission to the Inquiry. We apologise that we are providing our comments after the Law Council’s appearance before the Inquiry, but hope the Committee will still find them useful in its deliberations.

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Submission to the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council, July 2023

(PDF 333kb)

Full Stop Australia's preliminary submission to the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council's review on sentencing for sexual violence offences and the aggravating factor for domestic and family violence offences. We recommend that the Council should consider an overall uplift of sentences for sexual violence and child sexual abuse and urge the Council to consider how negative attitudes toward victim-survivors and "rape myths" impact sentencing decisions. We suggest limiting the use of ‘character’ evidence as a sentencing consideration for sexual violence.

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Submission to the Australian Institute of Criminology, June 2023

(PDF 333kb)

The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) has been engaged to undertake a review of sexual assault and child sexual abuse laws in Australia to support efforts to strengthen criminal justice responses.

This submission responds to the AIC’s questions on:
• how legislation addressing sexual violence and child sexual abuse could be improved;
• examples of best practice regarding sexual assault legislation; and
• what gaps exist in legislation for responding to new and emerging trends in sexual violence and
child sexual abuse.

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Submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, June 2023

(PDF 333kb)

Full Stop Australia thanks the Joint Committee for the opportunity to provide feedback regarding Australia's Human Rights Framework. Full Stop Australia provides in principle support for the introduction of a Human Rights
Act in Australia, but raises concerns about the proposed model in the draft Human Rights Act, which was published by the Australian Human Rights Commission on 7 March 2023.

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Submission to the Committee Secretary on the Family Law Amendment Bill 2023, June 2023

(PDF 333kb)

Full Stop Australia thanks the Committee Secretary for the opportunity to provide a submission on the important amendments in the Family Law Amendment Bill 2023. Our submission advocates for the removal of the presumption of shared parental responsibility, along with other key amendments.

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Submission to the Department of Justice and Attorney General, June 2023

(PDF 333kb)

The Queensland Government is seeking feedback on ways to achieve the right balance in the use of surveillance technologies to benefit community safety, while limiting their potential use in harmful situations.

Full Stop Australia thanks the Queensland Government for the opportunity to provide input on the use of surveillance technologies to ensure reforms consider and protect victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence.

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Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, May 2023

(PDF 333kb)

Full Stop Australia thanks the Committee for the opportunity to provide comment on the Family Law Amendment (Information Sharing) Bill 2023.

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Submission to the Attorney General's Department, May 2023

(PDF 333kb)

The Attorney-General’s Department is undertaking a national consultation process to inform the development of legal services models to improve the experiences of victims and survivors in the criminal justice system.

Full Stop Australia thanks the Attorney General’s Department for the opportunity to provide input on the important issue of developing trauma informed legal services for survivors of sexual assault.

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Submission to the Law Reform of Western Australia, May 2023

(PDF 333kb)

The Attorney General of Western Australia has asked the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia to review Western Australia’s sexual offence laws. Volume 2 considers the sexual offences that should be included in the Criminal Code Act Compilation Act 1913 (WA) and the penalties that should be set for those offences.

Full Stop Australia is grateful for the opportunity to provide feedback to this consultation process.

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Supplementary Submission to the Law Reform of Western Australia, May 2023

(PDF 333kb)

The Attorney General of Western Australia has asked the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia to review Western Australia’s sexual offence laws. Volume 1 provides advice to the Government about the ways in which these laws should be changed, having regard to the way that sexual offences are currently understood in the community.

Full Stop Australia is grateful for the opportunity to provide feedback to this consultation process.

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Submission to the Respect@Work Taskforce, April 2023

(PDF 333kb)

The Attorney-General’s Department has commenced a public consultation regarding the appropriate cost model for Commonwealth anti-discrimination proceedings owing to concerns raised during the debate on the Respect at Work Bill.

Full Stop Australia is grateful for the opportunity to attend the roundtable and provide feedback to this consultation process.

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Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, March 2023

(PDF 333kb)

The Senate referred an inquiry into current and proposed sexual consent laws in Australia to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry.

Full Stop Australia is grateful for the opportunity to address these important matters, and thanks the survivor-advocates who shared their lived experiences within this submission.

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Submission to the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia, March 2023

(PDF 333kb)

The Attorney-General of Western Australia has asked the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia to review Western Australia’s sexual offence laws, addressing the law of consent, mistake of fact defence and issues relating to objectives and guiding principles of reform.

Full Stop Australia is grateful for the opportunity to provide a submission outlining these matters.

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Submission to the Attorney-General's Department, February 2023

(PDF 333kb)

The Attorney-General of Australia is seeking feedback on the draft Family Law Amendment Bill 2023 which will primarily amend the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), with some consequential amendments to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021 (Cth).

Full Stop Australia is grateful for the opportunity to provide a submission addressing the exposure draft and thanks the survivor-advocates who shared their lived experiences within.

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Submission to the Committee on Workforce Australia Employment Services, November 2022

(PDF 333kb)

The Select Committee on Workforce Australia Employment Services is calling for submissions on the ParentsNext program as the first major component of its inquiry into employment services in Australia.

Full Stop Australia is grateful for the opportunity to provide a submission to this Inquiry on Parent’s Next.

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Domestic Violence Cash Transfer Pilot: Outcomes Report, November 2022

(PDF 655kb)

The Domestic Violence Cash Transfer Project (DV Cash Transfer Project) stems from the belief that the safest place for the provision of financial support for victim-survivors experiencing sexual, domestic and family violence (sexual, domestic and family violence) is the very organisation with which they have already established trust and safety. As such, Full Stop Australia with the support of NRMA Insurance, established the DV Cash Transfer Project which sought to address the financial constraints caused by the impacts of sexual, domestic and family violence.

This report details an overview of the DV Cash Transfer Project and provides insight into the benefits of facilitating and empowering victim-survivors to make their own financial choices to achieve safety and recover from violence and trauma.

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The Legal Affairs and Safety Committee consideration of the Domestic and Family Violence (Combatting Coercive Control) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

Submission to the NSW Government, The Legal Affairs and Safety Committee consideration of the Domestic and Family Violence (Combatting Coercive Control) and Other Legislative Amendment Bill 2022, November 2022

(PDF 891kb)

The NSW Government is consulting on a public exposure draft bill to outlaw coercive control in intimate partner relationships.

Full Stop Australia is grateful for the opportunity to provide feedback on the exposure draft of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Bill 2022.

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Sexual Violence Reform Priorities, November 2022

(PDF 891kb)

On 9 August 2022, Full Stop Australia hosted the Voices of Survivors event to provide an opportunity to sexual assault survivors to contribute to the reform agenda. Survivors were invited to share their views, experiences, and recommendations across matters relating to prevention and early intervention, response, and recovery in a series of panel discussions.

This report summarises the discussions and findings from these discussions in the hope of providing Australian Governments with the lived expertise of those who have been impacted by sexual violence and have navigated the very services, strategies and response pathways which are currently being reviewed.

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NSW CC Bill

Submission to the NSW Government, Coercive Control Draft Exposure Bill, August 2022

(PDF 1945kb)

The NSW Government is consulting on a public exposure draft bill to outlaw coercive control in intimate partner relationships.

Full Stop Australia is grateful for the opportunity to provide feedback on the exposure draft of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Bill 2022.

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NSW DFV Plan

Submission to the NSW Government, NSW Domestic and Family Violence Plan 2022-2027, August 2022

(PDF 1945kb)

Full Stop Australia welcomes the opportunity to make comment on the draft NSW Domestic and Family Violence Plan 2022-2027.

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NSW SV Plan

Submission to the NSW Government, August 2022

(PDF 1945kb)

Full Stop Australia welcomes the opportunity to make comment on the draft NSW Sexual Violence Plan 2022-2027.

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Western Australia CC Submission

Submission to the Commissioner for Victims of Crime, July 2022

(PDF 1945kb)

The Western Australian Government is seeking community debate about whether coercive control should become a criminal offence.

Full Stop Australia thanks the Western Australian Government for the opportunity to submit and calls for the criminalisation of coercive control as an important step forward in recognising and responding to the calls of victim-survivors.

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Full Stop Australia Final Report: The impact of COVID -19 on the mental health and wellbeing of people with lived experiences of sexual, domestic and family violence, July 2022

(PDF 2300kb)

This study was one of ten research projects funded by the Commonwealth National Mental Health Commission in June 2021 to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on different communities in Australia. Full Stop Australia was selected to conduct the study on people with lived experiences of sexual, domestic and family violence as one of the identified priority groups by the Commission.

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DCJ Submission

Submission to the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, July 2022

(PDF 1945kb)

The purpose of this review is to ensure that the policy objectives of the Victims Rights and Support Act 2013 remain valid and that the terms remain appropriate to meet the policy objectives.

Full Stop Australia thanks the Department for the opportunity to submit and as a general proposition, we do not consider that the current Act is working well for victim-survivors.

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Full Stop Australia Final Report: The impact of COVID-19 on the Mental Health and Wellbeing of People with Lived Experience of Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence, July 2022

(PDF 313kb)

The study was one of ten research projects funded by the Commonwealth National Mental Health Commission
in June 2021 to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on different communities in Australia. Full
Stop Australia was selected to conduct the study on people with lived experiences of sexual, domestic and family violence as one of the identified priority groups by the Commission.

The findings will inform the development of the following National Mental Health and Wellbeing Pandemic Response Plan Priority Areas of Action on the response and recovery phases of COVID19 (Commonwealth of Australia 2020, 3).

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Tasmanian Submission

Submission to the Tasmanian Government May 2022

(PDF 1945kb)

The Tasmanian Government is seeking specific feedback on our current Action Plan, Safe Homes, Families and Communities: Tasmania’s action plan for family and sexual violence 2019-2022.

Full Stop Australia thanks the Tasmanian Government for the opportunity to submit and strongly urges for an increase in long-term core funding for specialist sexual violence services to meet increased demand.

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Submission to the QLD Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce Discussion Paper 3 April 2022

(PDF 1945kb)

The Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce is seeking feedback to assist with necessary reform of the criminal justice system in Queensland.

Full Stop Australia thanks the taskforce for the opportunity and calls for the Queensland criminal justice system to urgently undertake comprehensive, systematic and whole-of-government reform.

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Submission on the Implementation Considerations for the Criminalisation of Coercive Control in South Australia

(PDF 1945kb)

Full Stop Australia supports the criminalisation of coercive control as one piece of a broader plan of action to properly and meaningfully respond to the scourge of coercive control.

Criminalisation in and of itself is not a silver bullet and must be accompanied by whole-of-government measures to educate, inform and train the justice system and the wider community.

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Submission to the NSW Treasury Women’s Economic Opportunities Review March 2022

(PDF 1945kb)

The NSW Treasury is leading a landmark Women’s Economic Opportunities Review which will consider how to improve women’s economic security through increased economic participation over the next 5-10 years.

Full Stop Australia warmly welcomes this review as a once-in-a generation opportunity to develop meaningful policies and programs which will lift women’s economic security and participation.

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Tasmania's Criminal Code Amendment Bill 2022- February 2022

(PDF 1945kb)

The Tasmanian Government drafted a Bill to introduce an offence of Strangulation and an addition to the definition of consent in s2A regarding Stealthing.

Full Stop Australia is very supportive of the insertion of a specific provision relating to stealthing in the law relating to consent, and also the inclusion of a new, specific offence of strangulation. However, concerns were raised relating to the form of both provisions.

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Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Criminal Justice Response to Sexual Violence and Other Measures) - February 2022

(PDF 1945kb)

Full Stop Australia is firmly of the belief that the implementation of sexual violence law reform at a Commonwealth level provides a critical benchmark for State and Territory Governments to follow.

In this regard, while Full Stop Australia is broadly supportive of the reforms proposed as a first step, we submit that the Government should consider implementing further reforms as much as is possible and in the interests of justice.

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NSW Pre-Budget Submission 2022/23: Improving Access to Sexual Violence Services - February 2022

(PDF 1945kb)

The NSW Sexual Violence Helpline (formerly NSW Rape Crisis) is the state-wide 24/7 specialist counselling and care navigation service for people in NSW impacted by sexual violence. The NSW Government has been funding Full Stop Australia's NSW Sexual Violence Helpline for nearly 50 years.

This funding submission includes recommendations for the expansion of the NSW Sexual Violence Helpline to meet rising demand and to improve accessibility for at-risk cohorts.

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