The Crisafulli Government is delivering protection for more domestic and family violence victims with the launch of its GPS Tracker pilot program.
Magistrates’ courts in Townsville and Caboolture from October will have the power to impose the trackers on the high-risk offenders as part of their domestic violence orders.
The pilot program will have the capacity to track 150 offenders by the end of 2025, and 500 by the end of 2028.
GPS trackers for high-risk domestic and family violence (DFV) offenders are part of the fresh start the Crisafulli Government is delivering to help restore safety and make Queensland safer, and complement existing safety planning undertaken in consultation with specialist DFV services and victim-survivors.
Victim-survivors will have the option of carrying their own personal safety device to alert them if a perpetrator has breached their order or comes within a certain proximity of a victim, so they can immediately enact their safety plan.
Monitoring devices will be available to be imposed on perpetrators with a history of DFV offences, or a current or previous conviction of an indictable offence involving violence.
Courts will also consider the views and wishes of the victim-survivor when deciding to impose a GPS tracker.
The Crisafulli Government’s 2025-26 budget is delivering $28.5 million to establish the framework and deliver the pilot program.
Other measures included in the landmark legislation include allowing police officers responding to incidents to issue on-the-spot Police Protection Directions, to provide immediate, 12-month-long protection to victim-survivors and the use of video-recorded evidence-in-chief for DFV victim-survivors, to ease trauma on victims during the court process.
These changes deliver on the Crisafulli Government’s key election commitments and mark another step towards restoring safety to Queenslanders.
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Amanda Camm said the GPS trackers were about putting victims first and holding perpetrators to account.
“We are piloting the GPS trackers in Townsville and Caboolture to protect more victims sooner and will continue to roll them out across Queensland,” Minister Camm said. “Domestic and family violence is insidious and has significant impacts across our entire state. Victim-survivors deserve the confidence that they will be protected and their perpetrators will be held to account. We are looking at all steps to strengthen prevention methods to improve life for victims and hold perpetrators to account.”
Member for Mundingburra and Assistant Minister for Community Safety Janelle Poole APM said enhancing these laws and implementing prevention programs would help break the cycle of violence.
“Granting police the authority to issue the most restrictive orders would ensure that high-risk offenders are appropriately monitored,” Poole said. “These reforms are not about headlining or media opportunities; they are about lives. Women, children and the community just want to feel safe, and for too long this has gone unanswered by the previous Labor Government.”
Member for Townsville Adam Baillie said DFV was a scourge on communities, and unfortunately, Townsville wasn’t immune – with police responding to more DFV incidents than ever before.
“The fact Townsville is one of the areas to pilot the GPS tracking devices shows this government’s commitment to restoring safety in homes across this city and dealing with this complex issue,” Baillie said.
Meanwhile, Member for Thuringowa Natalie Marr is proud to be part of a government that is putting families before perpetrators.
“Domestic and family violence is not acceptable in our community, and it cannot be ignored,” Marr said. “We’re delivering stronger protections here in Townsville to keep victim-survivors safe and hold offenders to account.”
Information and support options are available for anyone affected by DFV at the Queensland Government’s website.
Read also: New program launched to tackle family violence in diverse communities
Geraldine is currently the Content Producer for Third Sector, an Akolade channel. Throughout her career, she has written for various industries and international audiences. Her love for writing extends beyond the corporate world, as she also works as a volunteer writer at her local church. Aside from writing, she is also fond of joining fun runs and watching musicals.
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