Queensland’s New Domestic Violence Laws – Police Protection Directions

From 1 January 2026, Queensland Police have new powers to issue on-the-spot domestic violence protection orders, referred to as Police Protection Directions. A key objective of these new laws is to provide immediate certainty and safety for people experiencing domestic and family violence, and to reduce the trauma and delay associated with the court process.

A Police Protection Direction (PPD) can be issued without a court application and remains in place for 12 months, unless subsequently reviewed or replaced by a court order. In most cases, the aggrieved person does not need to go to court for a PPD to remain in force, unless someone seeks a review or further orders are made.

Below is a general guide on how the new powers work and what they may mean for your safety and rights; it is not legal advice.​

What is a Police Protection Direction?

A PPD is a legal direction issued directly by a police officer at the scene of a domestic violence incident or during an investigation. It is an administrative order made by the police, not a magistrate, but it is legally binding. Breaching a PPD is a criminal offence.

Once issued and served, a PPD remains in force for 12 months unless it is revoked, replaced by a court-made protection order or police protection notice, or brought before a court that makes a different decision.

Every PPD contains certain standard conditions that the respondent must obey, including that they must:​

• Be of good behaviour towards the aggrieved (and any other person named in the PPD) and not commit domestic violence against them.​
• Refrain from asking someone else to do something that would breach the PPD (for example, getting a friend to contact, threaten or harass the aggrieved).

Other conditions may be included, provided they are considered necessary and desirable.

The Power of “Ouster Conditions”

An ouster condition legally requires the person named as the respondent to leave a specified premises. This is usually the family home, but it can also include a workplace or another location that the person regularly attends.​

Key things to know about ousters:

• Immediate effect: The respondent must leave the premises as soon as they are told about, or served with, the PPD that contains the ouster condition.​

• Ownership and tenancy: The fact that the respondent is the legal owner or named tenant of the property does not prevent police from including an ouster condition if that is needed for the safety of the aggrieved or others.​

• Return conditions: If police include an ouster, they can also include a “return condition” allowing the respondent to come back to the premises at a specific (usually supervised) time to collect essential personal items such as clothing, tools of trade or medication.​

When can Police Issue a PPD?

Police can issue a PPD if they reasonably believe that:

• The people involved are in a “relevant relationship” under Queensland domestic and family violence law (for example, an intimate personal relationship, family relationship or informal care relationship).

• The respondent has committed domestic violence against the aggrieved.​

• It is necessary and desirable to issue a PPD to protect the aggrieved.​

• It is not more appropriate, in the circumstances, to make an application directly to the Magistrates Court for a protection order (for example, where a longer order or more complex conditions may be required).​

There are situations where the police cannot use a PPD and must instead go through the court. Examples include where either party is a child or a police officer, domestic violence proceedings are ongoing or have already commenced against the respondent, the respondent has recently been convicted of a domestic violence offence, weapons have been used, or both people need protection and the one in most need of protection cannot be identified.​

Implications for Respondents Under a PPD

If you are served with a PPD, the immediate and long‑term implications can be serious. Getting early legal advice from a Queensland domestic violence or criminal lawyer is essential.

Breaching a PPD is a criminal offence. Generally, the penalty for contravening a PPD is up to three years’ imprisonment or a substantial fine.

Implications for someone receiving a PPD include:

1. Immediate loss of rights without an automatic hearing

A PPD can impose strict conditions for up to 12 months from the moment it is issued or served. There is no automatic “first return” court date, as is often the case with police applications for protection orders. Rather, a respondent who wants the PPD reconsidered must actively seek a police or court review.

2. The risk of “accidental” breaches

Because a PPD can stay in place for up to 12 months and there is no automatic court date, some respondents may, over time, become complacent about the conditions. If a PPD says “no contact”, then sending a message, making a call, approaching in person, or even sending a “happy birthday” text through a friend may be a breach.

3. Impact on working life, blue cards and licences

A PPD is not in itself a criminal conviction, but it can still have significant consequences for work, licensing and background checks, such as:

• Blue cards and working with children
• Weapons licences
• Employment and security checks

Can a PPD be Reviewed or Changed?

Because PPDs are made by police rather than by a court, the law provides safeguards to help ensure fairness. Both the person being protected (the aggrieved) and the person the direction is against (the respondent) have rights to seek review.

There are two main pathways.

Police Review of a PPD

You can apply to the Queensland Police Service for a review of a PPD within 28 days after issue (unless exceptional circumstances apply). A senior officer or designated reviewer will review the decision, including the evidence, risk assessment and conditions.​

Following a review, police may:

• Confirm the PPD (leave it in place as is)​
• Revoke the PPD (with no further action)
• Revoke the PPD and issue a new one with amended conditions
• Revoke the PPD and issue a Police Protection Notice
• Revoke the PPD and apply for a protection order through the court system
• Take other action under s 100(3) of the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (Qld)

Court Review of a PPD

At any time while a PPD is in force, either party can apply to the Magistrates Court to have it reviewed. Once a review application is filed and the police file the PPD and grounds with the court, it automatically becomes an application for a protection order for the court’s consideration.

The Magistrates Court can:

• Make a final protection order (often for five years)
• Make a temporary protection order while the matter is determined
• Change the conditions in place
• Set aside the PPD (ending and removing it from the respondent’s domestic violence history)
• Dismiss the review application, in which case the PPD continues

As seeking a court review can result in the police asking the court to make a standard protection order that can last for several years, respondents should seek legal advice before applying.​

Conclusion

This article provides a general overview of Queensland’s new PPD regime as at 1 January 2026 and is not a substitute for legal advice. Anyone affected by domestic violence or served with a PPD should speak to a Queensland lawyer or a specialist support service about their specific situation.

For more information, help or advice, please call 07 3281 6644 or email mail@powerlegal.com.au.