The Albanese government introduced legislation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday aimed at strengthening police-issued domestic violence safety orders, responding directly to sustained pressure from victim advocates who argue current frameworks fail survivors of modern intimate partner violence, including those in short-term or non-cohabiting relationships.

The reform bill, tabled by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, proposes removing minimum relationship duration thresholds that have historically blocked victims of brief or non-formalised relationships from accessing immediate police protection orders. Advocates have long argued these thresholds reflect an outdated view of domestic violence that excludes dating violence and coercive control in newer relationships.

The legislative push follows a Wollongong rally attended by survivors including a Berkeley-area advocate identified only as Samantha, whose account of repeated abuse drew renewed media attention to the gaps in the current system. Community legal centres and women's safety organisations have spent weeks lobbying Labor backbenchers ahead of the bill's introduction.

Opposition spokeswoman on women's safety, Senator Jane Hume, indicated the Coalition would seek amendments in the Senate to include additional resourcing for frontline police, rather than opposing the core provisions. The Greens signalled support but said they would push for national consistency across state and territory frameworks, which differ significantly on eligibility criteria.

Human rights groups welcomed the bill's introduction but cautioned that legislative change alone would be insufficient without sustained funding for specialist domestic violence courts and community-based crisis services. The bill is expected to pass second reading debate by the end of the week and move to Senate committee review in May.