A man who poured petrol through his ex-partner's home before setting her car on fire and assaulting her has been released on parole because of the coronavirus, sparking outrage from domestic violence advocates who are concerned about the early release of prisoners in response to the health crisis.

The 32-year-old man pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Monday to arson, assault occasioning bodily harm, endangering property by fire and wilful damage.

Prosecutor Natalie Lima told the court the man had argued with his ex-partner at their Upper Coomera home in March last year, before he doused the lounge room with fuel as the woman and her children watched on, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

He then tipped petrol on the woman's car and set it alight, Ms Lima told the court, before smashing her phone and punching her several times in the head and chest.

Judge Julie Dick sentenced the man to three years in prison with immediate release on parole, in part because of concerns about the potential impacts of the coronavirus on the state's prison system.

"Both of the parties have agreed that in the incredibly unusual circumstances of today and because of concerns of COVID-19 and because of concerns if it gets into our crowded prison system, I will release you today," Judge Dick said.

'It took everything I had to walk into that courtroom'

The victim in the case said she was "gutted" by what she described as an "extremely unfair" decision in which "no justice was served".

"The law has yet again failed women and children as he is extremely dangerous," the woman told ABC News.

"It took everything I had to walk into that courtroom on Monday so to see the judge hand down a light sentence just gutted me," she said.

"I battle my demons every day because of that man and what he has done to me and my children over the years. It will no doubt affect us for our entire life."

Releasing violent offenders from prison during the pandemic was "not without consequence", said Angela Lynch. ( ABC News: Cameron Browne )

The case has sent shockwaves through the domestic violence sector, with advocates around the country concerned that new initiatives to release some prisoners from jail in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will have serious consequences for victim safety.

Some Australian jurisdictions have taken steps in recent days to release "low-risk" inmates to reduce the risk of the virus spreading through prisons, which experts say are particularly dangerous settings because of over-crowding and poor health conditions.

Courts, too, have been weighing the potential impacts of the pandemic as part of bail decisions, with Victorian Supreme Court judge Lex Lasry last week granting an accused drug trafficker bail because of the "significant" affects COVID-19 would likely have on those behind bars.

Fears for an 'imperfect' system

Angela Lynch, chief executive of Women's Legal Service Queensland, said the need to keep prisoners safe must be balanced with the "rights, safety and health concerns" of domestic violence victims, many of whom were at greater risk of abuse as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

"These are unprecedented times for everyone. However, letting violent offenders out in the community is not without consequence," Ms Lynch told ABC News.

"It may mean the victim and her children are forced out of their home for safety reasons and into refuge or temporary accommodation, into public spaces, as they may need to go to court for protection or seek legal advice."

Rosemary O'Malley, chief executive of the Gold Coast-based Domestic Violence Prevention Centre, said terrified clients had been calling to ask whether their abuser would also be released from prison early after reading media reports.

However, she said, the issue of perpetrators being released without victims being notified was not new.

Courts often "unexpectedly" grant bail to defendants accused of domestic violence even in cases where police have made strong objections, she said.

In other cases, she added, offenders have applied for and been granted bail without police or Corrective Services systems being updated in a timely manner.

"The system is not perfect," Ms O'Malley told ABC News. "[But] clearly the COVID-19 pandemic adds more layers of complexity to judicial decision-making, and Corrective Services decisions on who can and should be released."

Coronavirus shaping the nature of abuse

The nature of abuse clients are reporting had already shifted as a result of the virus, Ms O'Malley said.

Some women have disclosed that their abusive partners have used the crisis as a tool of coercion — for example, to pressure women to allow them to return to the family home.

Others have reported being too frightened to engage with support services because their perpetrator will potentially be in lockdown with them in the same house.

"There are currently fewer resources in terms of emergency accommodation available to women," Ms O'Malley said.

"Other responses that were previously available, such as flying women interstate to return to family or friends, are also limited due to many states closing their borders."

This is not the time to be causing additional fear for women who have been traumatised by domestic violence, said Hayley Foster. ( Supplied: Women's Safety NSW )

The NSW Government this week passed emergency legislation giving the Corrections Commissioner powers to release some of the state's 14,000 prisoners in a bid to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

Those serving sentences for murder, terrorism or other serious charges will not be eligible for early release under the new laws, and the commissioner would be required to check whether prisoners have been convicted of domestic violence charges before authorising their release.

But Hayley Foster, chief executive of Women's Safety NSW, said her sector had not been consulted around the changes.

"Victims of domestic violence are finding out about this in the media and calling our services terrified that their abuser is going to be released without them knowing," Ms Foster told ABC News.

"This is not the time to be causing additional fear and apprehension for women and their children who have been traumatised by domestic and family violence."

'It's only going to get worse'

Ms Foster said she was also concerned there had been "no opportunity" for frontline services to make submissions to the commissioner about the risk of releasing domestic violence offenders from prison early.

"This information is crucial if the commissioner is going to be armed with the knowledge he needs to make a determination on these matters," she said.

"We are also seeking assurances that where offenders are released, Corrective Services are required to work closely with frontline domestic violence services to ensure all relevant information is shared for the purpose of managing the ongoing safety of victims."

Ms Foster said a new report by Women's Safety NSW suggests the pandemic had already triggered a dramatic increase in the number and complexity of domestic violence cases, according to 80 frontline service workers surveyed.

"It's going to be massive, there's no two ways about it," she said. "We're already seeing the start of it, but it's only going to get worse."