Women in Canberra who take out domestic violence orders won't have to keep returning to court to have them extended.
Instead, under new draft laws introduced on Thursday, the interim orders would automatically be extended until related criminal charges have been dealt with in court.
The crackdown on domestic violence would make it a criminal offence to choke someone even if the act doesn't leave marks or cause them to lose consciousness.
It would also let police interviews with victims be used as chief evidence in court.
Furthermore, the laws would apply special protections for victims involved in criminal proceedings relating to breaches of domestic violence orders and property damage.
They were introduced to the assembly shortly after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull unveiled a $100 million national package of measures to end what he called a national disgrace.
ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell said the legal reforms were just one part of the territory's response to the growing crisis.
"Domestic and family violence causes enduring damage to individuals and society as a whole," he said in a statement.
"While domestic violence cannot be eliminated through law alone, legal measures are an essential component of any response."
