" An intervention order (ADVO) is an essential step. It is the only step available to you really when you go to find safety... but it only really works when somebody is going to follow it. For a recidivist or someone that's going to re-offend it is only a piece of paper" Rosie Batty.

I am a member of the YMCA NSW Youth Parliament and would love for you to show your support with this petition on a growing issue. Domestic Violence.

According to the latest figures from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, NSW Courts issued 26,491 Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVOs) in 2014. Of those 26,491 Orders, 11,788 were breached - almost 44% of all ADVOs issued by the Courts. Domestic violence, is an epidemic problem that faces NSW, with more than half the domestic violence orders ( ADVOs) being breached, there is a clear problem and something needs to be done.

More than 27,000 domestic violence assaults were reported to police last year in NSW alone, averaging 74 assaults in the state per day, and it’s the reason behind more than 30 per cent of all homicide cases in New South Wales. An ADVO is the first line of defence when victims of domestic violence seek help, and often this piece of paper offers no sustained protection. The problem is that ADVOs are easily breached and carry little penalties for their breach.

In NSW, Breaching and Apprehended Violence Order (Breach AVO) carries a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment and/or a fine of 50 penalty units ( $5,500) In most cases a charge of Breach AVO is not enough for a court to sentence someone to imprisonment on a full time basis. With this said, the penalties for breaching an ADVO are clearly not strong enough, most people who breach an ADVO get a slap on the wrist and are highly likely to re-offend. Last year, 60.4% of people given an AVO re –offended. The breach penalties need to be toughened, and carry stronger in order to protect the most vulnerable within our communities.

Your petitioners therefore request that the House will:

- Strengthen ADVOs to protect the men, women and children who are the victims of domestic violence

- Create these penalties to be more enforceable that protect the victims of domestic violence

- Implement stronger penalties and sanctions to those who breach these AVOs. This can be done by :

- Increasing the jail sentence for those who re-offend and continually breach these ADVOs

- Increasing fines and jail terms for first time offenders

- Having regular checks on the victims of re – offenders

- Having a minimum jail sentence for any breach of an ADVO

- Create mandatory rehabilitation and support programs for all offenders who breach the AVO