Domestic violence in Australia

In Australia, domestic violence (DV) is defined by the Family Law Act 1975. Each state and territory also has its own legislation, some of which broadens the scope of that definition, and terminology varies. It has been identified as a major health and welfare issue. Family violence occurs across all ages and demographic groups, but mostly affects women and children, and at particular risk are three groups: Indigenous, young and pregnant women.

Statistics are difficult to extract and assess, owing to the way they are collected and the fact that many go unreported, but a 2018 report by the AIHW revealed that one in six women and one in nine men were physically and/or sexually abused before the age of 15, and a 2016 survey of the data showed that one in six women and one in 20 men had experienced at least one incidence of violence from a current or former partner since the age of 15 (or 23 per cent men, 77 per cent women).

One case which achieved major media coverage, the murder of 11-year-old Luke Batty by his father in February 2014, led to a Royal Commission into Family Violence in Victoria. His mother, Rosie Batty AO, achieved national prominence by her campaigning on the issue, and had considerably influence on national public attitudes, philanthropy, government initiatives and funding, support services and police and legal procedures related to domestic violence in Australia. Another prominent case was the murder of Hannah Clarke and her children by her estranged husband in Queensland in 2020.