NSW Life Jail Without Parole for Killing a Partner While Under a Domestic Violence Order or Bail

Crimes Amendment (Mandatory Life Sentences) Bill 2026

Independent Bill

15 Oct 2026: MPs in the first house are debating whether this bill is a good idea in principle.

1st House

2nd House

Assent

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Topics

criminal justice criminal penalties domestic violence sentencing youth justice

Introduced by: Philip Donato MP (IND)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

A court must sentence a person to life imprisonment if they murder someone they were in a domestic relationship with, provided the killer was already subject to a domestic violence order or bail conditions to protect the victim.
People sentenced to life imprisonment for these domestic violence murders must stay in jail for the rest of their natural lives. They cannot be granted parole or early release.
These mandatory life sentences do not apply to people who were under 18 or had a significant cognitive impairment when the murder happened.