Victorian Labor promises tougher penalties for sexual and family violence offenders

By Jiali Hong- “Student journalists at the University of Melbourne”

Victorian Labor has pledged to introduce tougher penalties for sexual and family violence offences if it is re-elected at the state election on 28 November.

Premier Ben Carroll announced the proposed reforms on Sunday, including a maximum penalty of life imprisonment for rape and an additional five years to the maximum penalties for all serious sexual offences.Under the proposal, people convicted of murdering a current or former partner would face a standard sentence of 30 years, up from the current 25 years.

Labor has also proposed two new offences related to family violence. One would make it an Australian-first offence to criminalise abandoning a victim of family violence who needs urgent medical assistance. The proposal follows recommendations from the Victorian Coroner after the deaths of Narelle Simmons and Belinda Jones.

A second proposed offence would create a new form of manslaughter for offenders whose family violence drives their partner to suicide.

The proposed reforms would also change how sexual offending cases are heard in court. Labor has pledged to allow courts to consider an accused person’s history of sexual offending, including previous convictions for the same or similar offences, as evidence at trial.

The Evidence Act would also be amended to restrict what the government describes as “humiliating” and “invasive” questioning during cross-examination.

Premier Ben Carroll said:

“We must act on the violence that is killing a Victorian woman every two weeks.”

Opposition Leader Jess Wilson criticised the timing of the announcement, saying serious family violence incidents had increased by nearly 30 per cent over the past decade and that the government had not done enough during its 12 years in office. Overall, Victoria recorded about 74,000 family violence incidents in 2015 and more than 106,000 in 2025, according to Victorian crime statistics. The 2015 figure was 74,378 incidents in Crime Statistics Victoria’s published data.

The proposed reforms would require legislation if Labor wins the election. The government has not yet announced a detailed implementation timetable or funding arrangements. The announcement comes after the Victorian Parliament passed separate family and sexual violence reforms earlier this year, including making coercive control a standalone offence and restricting the use of “good character” references during sentencing.

Victorians will vote on 28 November, in the first state election in which Mr Carroll and Ms Wilson are leading their respective parties. Support: If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732. For crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Victorian Premier