The NSW Government failed women again: Poor bail reform for domestic abusers
Written by: Lily Dorranian
Molly Ticehurst was murdered in 2024 by her ex-partner. Her murderer, Daniel Billings was free on bail a fortnight before the alleged murder.
He made bail for charges related to Ticehurst. Some of these charges include
Three counts of sexual intercourse without consent
Four counts of stalking and intimidation
Destroying property at her house
Aggravated animal cruelty against her 12-week-old dachshund puppy
Legal documents now reveal that he had sent threatening messages before the alleged murder threatening to assault and harm Molly.
Molly’s death was preventable. The response of the legislature was immediate, however the “knee jerk” response is a legal band-aid to a national crisis founded on cultural and social misogyny. The key legislative changes are:
1. Only Judges and Magistrates Can Make Bail Decisions
In the case of Molly Ticehurst, a court registrar made the decision to allow her murderer to be granted bail.
Now only court judges and magistrates, with far more legal assessment experience, will be able to make these decisions.
2. Harsher Penalties for ADVO Breaches
The government has also increased penalties for breaching Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVOs).
Repeat offenders are targeted.
While these legislative changes are appreciated and do enhance protection of victims of domestic violence, the change is too little too late. These laws, a tough on crime approach, only enhance protection after violence and assault have been reported.
“Addressing the drivers of gendered violence is key to stopping it before it starts,” - Domestic Violence NSW chief executive Delia Donovan.
In regional areas, access to police and domestic violence protections are even more scarce.
Kneejerk legal responses like these demonstrate that the government is not willing to delve into the cultural and social responses that are required to prevent domestic violence situations from happening in the future. This solution is like a band-aid to the femicide crisis women are experiencing within Australia today. 31 women have been murdered this year and it is only May.
Australia’s 2022-23 National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children described violence against women—often a physical expression of misogyny—as ‘a problem of epidemic proportions’. In 2024, the Prime Minister declared that Australia faced a ‘national crisis’ of violence against women, with one woman being killed every four days. Additionally, the crisis of gendered violence must be extended to the deaths of missing and murdered women – in particular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who have disappeared, as well as Aboriginal deaths in custody.
"Violence against women does not just occur in a vacuum, it is takes place due to gender inequality, sexism and disrespect being prevalent and normalised in most areas of our community." - Sherele Moody, SBS News
Misogynist hate speech is embedded in Australian culture. 23 percent of Australian men find it acceptable to use sexist or misogynistic language online. One in five Australian men said it was acceptable to share intimate images of a woman online without her consent.
Australian men have been proven statistically to hold some of the most misogynistic views in the world. The population of young Gen Z men rank well above the global average in a country-by-country analysis on gender bias and online abuse by research firm Ipsos and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership (GIWL). Additionally:
32% of Australian men agree that men have “lost out” economically, politically and socially “as a result of feminism.”
Australian men were once again the second-highest cohort surveyed to agree with the statement that “gender inequality doesn't really exist.”
Similarly, more men in Australia believe “it’s a woman’s obligation to have sex with her boyfriend or husband even if she doesn’t feel like it”
30% of Australian men believe "women who say they were abused often make up or exaggerate claims of abuse or rape."
The deaths of many more Australian women are preventable if the NSW and Australian Government decides to finally do its job and address the deep cultural and social misogyny that is only ever increasing. Domestic violence rates are increasing, violence against women and children are increasing, and only addressing bail laws is addressing a problem too late.
References
9News. (2025, March 21). Molly Ticehurst’s alleged killer mentally assessed ahead of trial. @9News; 9News. https://www.9news.com.au/national/molly-ticehursts-alleged-killer-mentally-assessed/2daae2ca-4bc4-44dd-892e-c3d03606e970
Domestic Violence Bail Amendments: A Kneejerk Reaction to a Far Deeper Social Problem | NSW Courts. (2024, May 21). NSW Courts | New South Wales Courts. https://nswcourts.com.au/articles/domestic-violence-bail-amendments-a-kneejerk-reaction-to-a-far-deeper-social-problem/
during. (2024). Australia called for an end to violence against women. The numbers got worse. SBS News. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/australia-called-for-an-end-to-violence-against-women-the-numbers-got-worse/a9r4co2gj
Gender-related killings of women and girls: Improving data to improve responses to femicide/feminicide. (n.d.). UN Women Australia. https://unwomen.org.au/publications-and-resources/gender-related-killings-of-women-and-girls-improving-data-to-improve-responses-to-femicide-feminicide/
Keck, M. (2022, March 16). Australian Men Rank Among Most Misogynistic in Western World: Report. Global Citizen. https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/australian-men-rank-among-most-misogynistic/
Moody, S. (n.d.). The RED HEART Campaign | Memorial to women & children lost to violence. The RED Heart Campaign. https://australianfemicidewatch.org/
NSW Government. (2023). Justice reforms to boost safety for victim-survivors of domestic violence. Communities and Justice; NSW Department of Communities and Justice. https://dcj.nsw.gov.au/news-and-media/media-releases/2025/justice-reforms-to-boost-safety-for-victim-survivors-of-domestic.html
NSW premier flags domestic violence-related bail laws review in wake of Molly Ticehurst’s alleged murder. (2024, April 23). ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-24/nsw-domestic-violence-bail-laws-review-to-be-announced/103761638
