14 MAY, 2023
Who: Charles Darwin University law expert Associate Professor Guzyal Hill and research data scientist Dr Yakub Sebastian.
Topics:
- Computational analysis of domestic violence legislation in Australia.
- The need for cohesive domestic violence legislation across Australia.
- A notable gap exists in the complexity of domestic violence laws among Australian States and Territories. Prime Minister Albanese's latest plea for tangible action in addressing violence against women underscores the necessity for a cohesive legislative strategy across the nation.
Contact details: Call +61 8 8946 6721 or email media@cdu.edu.au to arrange an interview.
Quotes attributable Associate Professor Guzyal Hill:
“As communities rally against violence targeting women, it is imperative that lawmakers heed this call and reassess the efficacy of existing legislation in deterring and prosecuting offenders.
“The complexity of domestic violence laws poses a significant challenge, impeding law enforcement effectiveness, hindering public education efforts on legal matters, and undermining other preventive measures.
“The lack of uniformity in legal approaches across our States and Territories further compounds these issues, highlighting the urgent need for a unified legislative strategy.”
Quotes attributed to Dr Yakub Sebastian
“Using a computational method, we empirically compared the complexity of domestic violence and family law statutes across all Australian States and Territories.”
“Metrics such as structural intricacy, length, readability, rate of amendment, and cross-reference density were computed, revealing varying levels of complexity.
“These findings, which have never been published before, indicate that the domestic violence law in Victoria ranks the most complex, followed by statutes in Queensland and New South Wales, suggesting a lack of uniformity in legal approaches nationwide.”
Contact details:
Raphaella Saroukos she/her
Research Communications Officer
Marketing, Media & Communications
Larrakia Country
T: +61 8 8946 6721
E: media@cdu.edu.au
W: cdu.edu.au
