Journal Citation:
36 UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES LAW JOURNAL, 56-87 (2013)
This article explores the increasing number
of cross-applications as they relate to
domestic violence in Queensland, Australia.
Cross-applications occur where both parties
(man and woman) seek a protection order
against the other. While cross-applications
are a smaller subset of claims made (the
majority are made by only women), the
increase calls into question the state
response to domestic violence claims.
Concerns including the ability to give effect
to cross-applications, as well as the chance
that one party will use the ability to cross-
apply to pressure or coerce the other, are
explored. The possibility that cross-
applications trivialize the claims put forth
by one party (frequently the woman) is also
addressed. The author discusses the role of
law enforcement in addressing these problems.