Perpetrators of family violence in Victoria may soon be tracked electronically like pedophiles, after the state government supported a police union call for GPS monitoring of repeat offenders.
Attorney-General Robert Clark said the courts already had the power to impose GPS monitoring on domestic violence offenders, though specific legislation may be required and it was "an idea we want to take further".
"Already, the courts can order family violence perpetrators to be GPS-monitored and tracked," Mr Clark told reporters on Wednesday.
"The technology is there, we have a contract in place that can make many hundreds of these devices available, and we won't hesitate to extend the use of GPS monitoring, as and when we can, to better protect the community."
Mr Clark said the technology could be used to create "no-go zones" around a victim's home or workplace, deterring perpetrators who know a breach would trigger a rapid police response.
On the Police Association of Victoria's wish list for the November state election, it wants people who breach an intervention or family violence order three times to face GPS monitoring.
Association secretary Senior Sergeant Ron Iddles said this would save lives, though legislation was needed to make clear the circumstances in which people other than sex offenders could be tracked.
"I've probably been to three or four homicides where the victim has rung up saying someone is breaching the intervention order and, sadly, by the time police arrive, they are dead," Sen Sgt Iddles told reporters.
Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said it was a "good idea to deal with a very bad problem", but a system-wide overhaul was needed and Labor, if elected, would hold a royal commission into family violence.
Domestic Violence Victoria warned tracking would do little in cases where family contact was allowed as part of an intervention order, such as the case of an 11-year-old killed by his father in February.
"When we look at real-life issues, GPS tracking wouldn't have saved Luke Batty," chief executive Fiona McCormack said.
"We need to invest in training for those coming into contact with these men - the courts and with police - to recognise the signs."
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