My daughter, Mackenzie Anderson, was violently murdered by her ex-partner in front of her 23-month-old child.

He received just 15 years non-parole. When our family appealed this sentence, it was dismissed on the grounds that this is “normal sentencing” for domestic violence murders in Australia.

This is the problem. Too often, there isn’t an appropriate sentencing for men who murder women. In Mackenzie’s case, the offender also breached an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) by breaking into her home twice on the same day—but he received zero sentencing for those breaches, despite it being confirmed in court.

When four men were killed by a king hit in Sydney, the Australian Government acted immediately, stepping in to strengthen sentencing laws and introduce the so-called “one punch” legislation. Yet in Australia, one woman is murdered every four days—most often by a partner or ex-partner—and the government has stood by. Families like mine are left devastated while offenders receive lenient sentences that do not reflect the gravity of their crimes.

We need urgent law reform.

We demand the following changes:

Minimum sentencing when an AVO is breached in conjunction with a violent assault or murder.

Currently, too many perpetrators breach Apprehended Violence Orders (AVOs) without meaningful consequences. When those breaches escalate to violent assaults or even murder, it is unacceptable that minimum sentencing is not mandated. We need laws that clearly state: if you breach an AVO and commit violence, you will face mandatory prison time.
Minimum sentencing for domestic violence murders.

When a partner, spouse, or family member takes another person’s life, the justice system must recognise the devastating impact on families and communities. These murders are not “crimes of passion”—they are acts of control, power, and violence. We are calling for minimum sentencing standards that reflect the seriousness of domestic violence homicides and prevent lenient outcomes that devalue victims’ lives.
Recognition of children who witness a murder as victims of child abuse.

Children who witness the murder of a parent, sibling, or loved one are left with lifelong trauma. Yet under current law, they are not formally recognised as victims of abuse in these circumstances. We are demanding legislative change so that:

Children who witness murder are legally recognised as victims.
Offenders who commit murder in the presence of a child face additional child abuse charges to acknowledge the profound harm inflicted on the child.
 
 The harm to children

Children who witness domestic violence or homicide often suffer invisible wounds that last a lifetime. Research shows that:

Exposure to violence can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, nightmares, and developmental delays.
These children are more likely to struggle with school, experience difficulties in relationships, and face long-term mental health challenges.
Witnessing the murder of a parent is one of the most severe traumas a child can endure, often described by psychologists as equivalent to direct physical abuse.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has reported that children exposed to domestic violence are at increased risk of self-harm, homelessness, and entering the child protection system.
 Despite this, children who witness such atrocities are not always recognised in law as victims, and offenders face no additional accountability for the trauma they inflict. This must change.

Why this matters

Every life lost to domestic violence is a national tragedy. Every child who grows up scarred from witnessing violence deserves recognition, protection, and justice. Too often, sentences do not reflect the severity of these crimes, leaving families shattered and communities unsafe.

It is time for our laws to change. Victims deserve better. Children deserve protection. Families deserve justice.

We call on the Australian Federal Government and State/Territory Governments to urgently reform domestic violence and homicide laws by enacting these minimum sentencing requirements and protections for children.

Together, we can demand a justice system that values lives, protects the vulnerable, and holds offenders fully accountable.

👉 Please sign and share this petition to demand urgent law reform—in Mackenzie’s name, and for every woman and child who deserves safety and justice.