Fees waiver for family violence orders welcomed

Tasmanian Labor
  • Government reacts to groundswell of support for fees to be abolished
  • Barriers to fleeing family violence needed to be removed
  • Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Michelle O’Byrne has welcomed the move to waive fees faced by family violence survivors when seeking to escape dangerous relationships.

    Ms O’Byrne said the announcement today that administrative fees imposed through the courts for Tasmanians seeking interim family violence orders would be abolished was welcome.

    “There should be no barrier that stands in the way of seeking help,” Ms O’Byrne said.

    “People looking to flee dangerous situations are faced with administrative fees totalling almost $50 and, in many, many cases that’s a real impediment.

    “There has been a groundswell of action calling for the costs to be abolished and the move by the government today is welcomed.

    “Labor has been calling for the removal of these fees – as recently as in Estimates hearings last month – and we now look forward to the government addressing the often unworkable requirement for survivors to deliver interim orders to perpetrators, often by themselves.

    “We just have to break down any barriers that exist for Tasmanians seeking to be safe.”

    Michelle O’Byrne MP

    Shadow Minister for Women, Equality and Prevention of Family Violence

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