I speak in debate on the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026.

I thank the Attorney General for bringing the bill forward and acknowledge the work of everyone involved in putting the bill together and developing these reforms. This Government was elected with a mandate to take a whole-of-government approach to ending domestic and family violence. The bill is a significant step in that mission. It strengthens our laws, protects victims and sends a clear message that technology cannot be used as a weapon.

I am sure all members of the House will agree that the findings of the NSW Crime Commission's Project Hakea report were confronting. Between 2010 and 2023, 82 per cent of people charged with unlawfully using a tracking device in New South Wales had been involved in domestic violence offences. This means that technology is now a frontline tool for abuse and we must adapt to this new challenge. There are almost 30 private investigators or so-called "spy stores" operating across Sydney—more than average even for a city of our size. The evidence from Project Hakea tells us clearly that the Government is right to bring in tough laws to scrutinise these establishments to ensure that those devices are not promoted for unlawful surveillance. They will allow us to take the wind out of the sails of abusers and stalkers, limiting the ways in which they target their victims and would‑be victims.

The Parliament took an important step in 2024 when we strengthened the legal framework around technology-facilitated abuse. The bill builds on that work. It expands the definition of "stalking", creates a new offence of "covert stalking" and makes it an offence to promote the unlawful use of surveillance devices. It also ensures that people with domestic violence convictions cannot obtain a security industry licence, closing a loophole that should never have existed. These reforms matter deeply to communities like Blacktown. Domestic and family violence is not an abstract issue—too many families in our area live through it. The rise of hidden devices, stalkerware and online monitoring pose a very real risk to the safety and privacy of people in my electorate. When someone can be tracked and watched or monitored without their knowledge, the harm is not only physical—it is psychological, financial and deeply personal.

LEAD is an NGO in my constituency that helps family and community sector organisations with capacity building. LEAD's Chief Executive Officer Sharmily Mukherjee said:

The creation of a covert stalking offence is especially important. Too often, victims only become aware of stalking when the situation has escalated to the point of real danger. This bill shifts the focus to early intervention. It acknowledges that stalking is harmful even when the victim does not yet know it is happening, and it gives police and the courts the tools they need to act sooner.

We are not alone in doing this work. Recently, the United Kingdom's Labour Government expanded the circumstances under which stalking protection orders can be issued, allowing courts to impose them automatically at the end of criminal proceedings. This takes the burden off victims when navigating the justice system after a trial has concluded. It means that a victim's safety and privacy is their right rather than a privilege. For instance, take the Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses, which are now circulated widely online. They allow users to record members of the public, often without their knowledge or consent. While the manufacturer does not promote unlawful use, we know that copycat products and re-sold devices can easily enter the market without safeguards. By prohibiting the promotion of unlawful surveillance, the bill gets ahead of that risk.

The Government has invested $126 million in the NSW Crime Commission and NSW Police Force, funding real time, digital reporting tools for the public, stronger intelligence, and data analytics. This investment will give the police the tools to stop organised crime. The inclusion of third-party stalking in the definition of stalking means that where one person installs a surveillance device, another monitors it, and a third person uses the recording to intimidate, blackmail or physically harm the victim. Technology has changed the way people live, but it has also changed the way some people harm others. We cannot ignore this reality. The bill will ensure our laws keep pace with that change.

Whilst the bill can produce guidelines and the law, many community organisations provide friendships and support services that save lives. I wish to thank many of these organisations. Due to time constraints I will name them rather than go into detail about the service they provide. They are LEAD, Blacktown Women's and Girls' Health Centre, the Harman Foundation, ADRA Community Centre Blacktown, Relationships Australia and SydWest Multicultural Services. Whether providing help lines, case management, food services, counselling or men's behavioural workshops, they all help to break the cycle of violence and criminal behaviour.

Other organisations that may be unfunded but also provide women's empowerment services include the Afghan Women on the Move and the Stitches Collection. Those organisations and many others support and uplift women in our community, giving them hope to deal with the challenges of day-to-day living. I am proud to be part of this Government that yesterday announced an additional $184.1 million to fund a 50 per cent increase in frontline specialist domestic and family violence programs.

I also thank Kieran Green, who is an international student from England volunteering in my office and helped put this speech together.

I commend the bill to the House.