Queensland introduces stronger domestic violence protections with GPS trackers and on-the-spot police orders

Laws that allow police to issue immediate 12-month protection orders for alleged victims of domestic and family violence have been welcomed by Sue and Lloyd Clarke.

The Clarks lost their daughter, Hannah, and grandkids, Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, when they were murdered in a horrific attack in February 2020.

Their deaths had sparked a national domestic violence debate, with Queensland ushering in coercive control laws in May.

Months on, and the Clarkes have flung their support behind Queensland’s latest legislative push to curb domestic and family violence.

“We welcome these new laws coming in,” Lloyd Clake said.

“Really think the trackers and the police protection directions will actually put the onus back onto the perpetrator and keep the victims safer.”

“Hannah had a good experience with the police, and if these laws had been in then hopefully her and the kids would have been saved.”

Along with on-the-spot protections, courts can issue GPS trackers for high-risk domestic violence offenders and for those who have breached orders or directions.

The first 150 monitoring devices will roll out from October.

A trial of video-recorded evidence across Queensland will be introduced under the laws to reduce trauma for victims through the courts.

“Every little resource we can have to add to keeping our women safe, we save one more life,” Sue Clarke said.

“We can’t ask for more than that.”

Stakeholders had raised concerns that more victims of crime and victim-survivors of domestic and family violence would be criminalised under the laws when they were tabled earlier in 2025.

A review by Queensland police in July had found officers were responding to up to 180,000 domestic and family violence calls every year.

The number of calls for service to domestic and family violence incidents in Queensland increased by 218 per cent from 2012-2024.

In April, the Crime Report Queensland 2023/24 revealed that the number of domestic violence protection order breaches exceeded drug offences for the first time.

Breaches have nearly doubled in the past five years from 24,142 to 41,523, the state government said.

The legislation will prioritise victims, Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Minister Amanda Camm said.

“This is all about putting victims first. This is all about giving police the resources and the tools that they need to be able to get to the next victim,” she said.

“We are delivering; holding perpetrators to account and sending the strong message we have zero tolerance to domestic violence.”

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