Creating categories of domestic violence risks minimising the impacts of abusive behaviour, says Tasmanian advocates.
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It comes after an organisation backed by One Nation gave evidence at a Senate Select inquiry into the family law system on Wednesday.
The Australian Brotherhood of Fathers gave evidence for about two hours to complement a comprehensive written submission.
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The organisation, whose founder is also the founder of the Australian Better Families political party, suggested creating a new definition for domestic violence.
That definition would include a "low-risk" category that would relate to behaviour that was situational, not part of a pattern, represented no risk to children or break up instigated.
Women's Legal Service Tasmania chief executive officer Yvette Cethel said the problem with labelling some behaviours low-risk was that it minimised the experience of victims.
"What we know is that [separation] is a really dangerous time for women and a time when many women lose their life," Ms Cethel said.
Ms Cethel said the murders of Hannah Clarke and Olga Neubert were evidence of the dangers faced by women during separation.
"Talking about behaviour as low or medium or high risk doesn't recognise that the behaviour that constitutes abuse and family violence comes from attitudes and beliefs that women are not equal," she said.
"That's problematic and that is what we need to address."
Engender Equality chief executive officer Alina Thomas said the notion of creating a hierarchy of family violence offences runs the risk of not acknowledging certain behaviours.
"I think we need to be looking at family violence in a more nuanced way rather than lessening the definition," she said.
She echoed Ms Cethel's concerns about labelling break up behaviour low-risk and said the definition of low-risk put forward by ABF was misguided.
"The idea that there is an acceptable way to be abusive because the relationship has ended is really fraught," Ms Thomas said.
Ms Thomas said she was pleased to see some similarities between their submission and the ABF submission.
She said speeding up the family law process and focusing on the rights of the child was important.
If this article raises concerns for you or anyone you know contact the 24-hour national sexual assault and family violence counselling service on 1800 737 732.
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