# Domestic violence legal and policy developments > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/domestic-violence-legal-and-policy-developments > Updated: 2026-10-07T05:00:00.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2. In Australia, a series of violent domestic incidents has led to intensified calls for the Federal Government to establish a national royal commission into domestic violence. While state-level commissions have occurred in Victoria and South Australia, the Commonwealth has shown hesitation. Government officials, including Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek, have stated they are prioritizing increased resources, including over $4.4 billion in funding, to address factors such as housing security and online misogyny. Concurrently, legal proceedings regarding domestic violence and assault are navigating complexities in both Australia and the United Kingdom. In Australia, a defendant in New South Wales faces charges including assault causing actual bodily harm and contravening an Apprehended Violence Order, though proceedings face delays due to separate potential life imprisonment sentences in Queensland. In the United Kingdom, a defendant at Chelmsford Crown Court changed pleas to include counts of actual bodily harm and assault by beating, which a judge described as ‘really nasty domestic violence offences’. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-07: Domestic violence and assault cases face legal complexities in UK and Australia Courts in the UK and Australia are processing domestic violence and assault cases involving defendants facing significant prison time or complex interstate legal hurdles. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/domestic-violence-and-assault-cases-face-legal-complexities-in-uk-and-australia ### 2026-09-22: Australia faces calls for national domestic violence royal commission Australian officials face renewed pressure to establish a national royal commission into domestic violence following a series of violent incidents, despite government focus on increased funding and resources. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/australia-faces-calls-for-national-domestic-violence-royal-commission --- Cite as: Domestic violence legal and policy developments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/domestic-violence-legal-and-policy-developments