I support the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026. I thank my colleague the member for Lismore, who has been bettering people's lives by working with her community and pushing for legislative reform for many years. It is an honour to follow her in this debate. Domestic and family violence continues to be one of the greatest social and criminal justice challenges facing not only our State but our country and the world. Domestic violence is not confined to physical violence; it is often about power and control. It is about intimidation, surveillance and isolation. Predominantly, it is about fear.

Technology is increasingly used as another tool to exercise that control. Technology itself is not the problem; the problem is how perpetrators use it. Tracking devices, spyware, hidden surveillance and unauthorised monitoring have become modern tools of coercive control. Victim-survivors tell us that, even after they have left a violent relationship, the abuse often continues through technology. They are tracked, their communications are monitored, their movements are watched, their privacy is invaded and their sense of safety is stripped away. The bill recognises that reality and seeks to ensure that our laws keep pace with the changing nature of domestic and family violence.

The reforms arise from the NSW Crime Commission's Project Hakea investigation into the criminal use of surveillance devices. What the commission found should concern all of us. Surveillance devices are being used not only by organised crime groups but also by domestic violence perpetrators, to stalk, harass, intimidate and control victims. The report identified a significant number of purchasers of tracking devices who had histories of domestic violence or were already subject to apprehended violence orders. Those findings reinforce what victim‑survivors and frontline services have been telling us for years: Technology-facilitated abuse is real, is harmful and demands a strong legal response.

One of the most important reforms in the bill closes a loophole that allows perpetrators to use others to do their stalking for them. A person should not escape responsibility simply because they directed somebody else to carry out the conduct. Whether the other person is a private investigator, a friend, a family member or an associate, the intent is the same and the harm to the victim is the same. This reform rightly places accountability where it belongs. The bill also creates a new offence of covert stalking, which is a significant reform. Technology now allows perpetrators to secretly monitor a victim without their knowledge through spyware, tracking devices or unauthorised access to personal accounts. The victim may not know it is happening, but that does not make the conduct harmless. It remains a profound invasion of privacy and a form of coercive control. It may facilitate further abuse and violence. The law must recognise the seriousness of that conduct.

The bill also addresses the promotion of unlawful surveillance devices. Businesses should not encourage or profit from criminal behaviour. Advertising that promotes covert or unlawful monitoring of another person has no place in our community. The message is simple: If a product is marketed for unlawful purposes, there should be consequences. I also support the reforms that make domestic violence offences a disqualifying factor for security industry licences. Domestic and family violence offenders should not be able to access positions that may provide specialised security knowledge, equipment or, in some circumstances, firearms. This reform recognises the seriousness of domestic violence offending and strengthens integrity within the industry.

While this bill is important, legislation alone will never solve domestic and family violence. We know there is still much work to do. We must continue investing in preventative measures. We must continue supporting victim-survivors. We must continue strengthening frontline services. All of us in this place must continue challenging the attitudes and behaviours that enable violence against women and children. As I have said in this place before, domestic and family violence is preventable. It is not inevitable, but it is a crime and we must never underestimate its impact on the lives of women, children, families and communities.

I take a moment to recognise all of those good people in the Blue Mountains who work in the domestic violence space, in prevention and response work: DV West and the Wimlah Refuge; the Blue Mountains Women's Health and Resource Centre, and the Blue Mountains Coalition Against Violence and Abuse; the Blue Mountains Police Area Command and its domestic violence liaison officers; Blue Mountains City Council, which has a particular program targeting domestic violence prevention measures, and I especially note the life‑saving and life‑changing work undertaken by my colleague and friend Councillor Suzie van Opdorp over many decades; NSW Health; 1800RESPECT and the NSW Domestic Violence Line; Domestic Violence NSW; all of the neighbourhood and family support services who offer a soft contact point for people to raise domestic and family violence issues; and the Blue Mountains Collaborative on Elder Abuse.

More than 11 years ago I stood on the other side of this Chamber as the newly elected member for Blue Mountains. I was very, very nervous. I made a decision to share a little bit of my life. As a child victim‑survivor of domestic violence and because of the life that I have lived, dipping in and out of work around preventing domestic violence, raising awareness and educating the community, it is such a privilege that I get to stand here representing my community whilst we are undertaking such important reform. I never imagined as a young girl, with the life I lived, that I would be a legislator in this State one day. I put on record what a great privilege it is to be here and to be putting forward excellent legislation. I thank the Ministers who have worked together on the bill—there are a number of them—and the Attorney General, who is in the Chamber. I also recognise the work done by the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and her team, and by the police Minister. It has been a joint effort. So many people have come together to offer different advice so that we can pass good legislation.

This bill is a practical and necessary response to the evolving nature of domestic violence. It closes loopholes. It strengthens protections for victim‑survivors. It formally recognises the dangers of technology‑facilitated abuse, and it sends a very clear message that those who seek to control, monitor and intimidate others through technology will be held accountable. Finally, I am very proud to be part of the Minns Labor Government, who announced in its budget yesterday a 50 per cent increase in funding for core domestic and family violence frontline services over the next four years and an additional $184.1 million that will be pumped into frontline programs. It is brilliant and, sadly, it is necessary. I commend the bill to the House.