By Halshane Burke
Perpetrators of gender-based violence will face stiffer penalties going forward following legislative changes.
Minister of Gender Affairs Olivia Grange said work has started on amendments to the Domestic Violence Act to capture more offences that would be considered acts of violence.
Among them, she said, are amendments to comply with the new Firearms legislation.
This would take into consideration if a man, for instance, uses a gun to hit, threaten or intimidate a woman: "[He] may take it and slap the woman or point it at her, or take it out and just put it down so she can see that you mean business."
Ms Grange said these circumstances will be addressed in the amendments to the Domestic Violence Act.
She was addressing a forum on the elimination of violence against women.
