My name is Emily Joan Lewis. 

Like many other victim-survivors of domestic violence in Australia, I was unaware that my ex-partner had a hidden prior history of serious domestic violence against women.

Seven weeks ago, I was brutally attacked by my perpetrator, immediately before he tried to end my life. I managed to escape, and my perpetrator remains in custody on remand.

Since my escape seven weeks ago, multiple women in Australia have lost their lives at the hands of their current or former abusive partners, and two young girls were also murdered by males known to them during this time. 

The worsening epidemic of DV related deaths (femicide) is a national crisis, and an emergency. We're in trouble, and we must do something! We must act now to stop further deaths. We must act now to stop as many potential future incidents of domestic violence as we possibly can.

While I continue to support the importance of Clare's Law in this country, I am now calling for an urgent implementation of Jennie's Law in Australia. Jennie's Law was named in honour of Jennifer Poole. She was murdered by her ex-partner, in North Dublin, in April 2021.

Jennie's Law was fortunately recently passed in Ireland, and it differs to Clare's Law (as well as the current DV Disclosure tool currently only available in South Australia). 

Jennie's Law is a nationwide and public online DV register that is easy to access, without the need to visit or contact a police station. Jennie's Law, logistically, requires far less resources for potential DV victims to utilise. It also saves valuable time (that many victims do not have), and it stands to prevent the problem before it even starts. Unlike Clare's Law, Jennie's Law is accessible to all users before their lives are already in danger. 

Alongside the implementation of Jennie's Law - which would indeed improve visibility from the get go, it still must sit alongside connected records, active risk management, and accountability across police, courts and services, as this type of information only protects women when it's accessible early enough (and when someone is required to act on it in the cases where it's already necessary). 

Please sign this Petition and share it far and wide. At this current juncture in Australia with the escalating levels of male violence against women; 

PREVENTION IS NOW OUR BEST HOPE. 

By signing this petition, you are joining a nationwide movement advocating for change, for safety, and for justice. Let's urge the Australian government to make Jennie's Law a reality and save countless lives from the cruelty of domestic violence. 

Thank you.