The landscape regarding domestic violence law in Queensland changes again. As of 1 January 2026, new laws empower police to issue ‘on-the-spot’ domestic violence protection orders, called Police Protection Directions (PPD).

A PPD can be imposed by police in the same way police can issue fines, for example. There will be no need for an application or court hearings. A PPD will be imposed for a period of 12 months and can include a number of conditions.

Queensland’s DV laws prior to January 2026

The previous system involved police applying to the court for a domestic violence protection order (DVPO) on behalf of an aggrieved person (a person subjected to domestic violence by another person, the respondent) in conjunction with issuing a police protection notice (PPN).

A PPN is generally issued if there is a need for immediate protection before the matter comes before a court. A PPN acts as an interim DVPO and contains a number of prohibitions on a respondent and remains in force until the application for the DVPO is first heard by the court.

The respondent to the application has the option to contest it and take the matter to hearing or agree to a final DVPO being made. The standard period of a DVPO is five years. A DVPO can impose a range of conditions on respondents.

What are Police Protection Directions (PPDs)?

PPDs effectively take away the need for police to issue PPNs and an application for a DVPO to the court, and the ensuing court process.  

In order to issue a PPD, the police must reasonably believe that:

• domestic violence has occurred; and
• issuing a PPD is necessary or desirable to protect the victim/aggrieved from domestic violence; and
• it is inappropriate to bring an application for a DVPO.

What do the police have to consider prior to making a PPD?

In addition to the above, the police will also have to consider:

• the principles of the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012, including that the safety, protection and wellbeing of people who fear or experience domestic violence are paramount;
• the criminal history and domestic violence history of both parties;
• whether it would be more appropriate to proceed with an application for a DVPO, which proceeds through the court; and
• the views and wishes expressed by the victim/aggrieved.

In the event that the respondent is not at the location where police are when intending to make the PPD, the police have to make reasonable attempts to locate and speak with the respondent, prior to issuing the PPD.

What conditions can be included in PPD?

A PPD must include the standard conditions requiring the respondent to be of good behaviour towards the aggrieved and must not commit acts of domestic violence against the aggrieved (called the ‘mandatory conditions’).

The PPD can also include conditions such as:

• no contact conditions (i.e. that the respondent is prohibited from contacting or attempting to contact the aggrieved);
• an ouster condition (requiring the respondent to leave their shared residence); 
• prohibitions on visiting certain places like schools, workplaces, or homes; and
• cooling-off periods to defuse volatile situations.

All of the above conditions can already be imposed through a PPN and DVPO application process; that is to say, they are not unique to the PPD process. However, certain approvals are required by senior officers in the Queensland Police Service for cool-down conditions, and ouster and no-contact conditions to be imposed via PPDs.

When can’t a PPD be issued?

Police cannot impose a PPD if the following circumstances exist:

• where the respondent or aggrieved is a child;
• where the respondent or aggrieved is a police officer;
• where the matter is so serious that the respondent should be taken into custody in relation to the alleged domestic violence;
• where a DVPO (or equivalent interstate protection order) is in force, or has previously been in force. This is to ensure the parties who have a history of orders between them proceed to a court to have their relationship as a whole considered;
• where a PPD against the respondent is in force or has previously been in force; 
• where the respondent has been convicted of a domestic violence offence in the previous two years;
• where the respondent has allegedly used or threatened to use an offensive weapon or instrument to commit the domestic violence;
• where an application for a protection order, including via a PPN, against the respondent has been made; and
• where a child is a named person on the PPD or where a condition restricting contact between a respondent and a child is contemplated, and the police officer reasonably believes there are family court or child protection orders in place, or family court proceedings on foot.

‘Cross-directions’ are not permitted; meaning police cannot impose PPDs on two people who are the aggrieved person in one PPD and the respondent in the other PPD. Police are prevented from issuing a PPD if there are indications that both persons in the relationship are in need of protection, and the person who is most in need of protection cannot be identified.

Compliance with a Police Protection Direction

If you are served with a PPD, you must comply with the conditions imposed on it. As with DVPOs, the onus is on the respondent to comply with the conditions, not the aggrieved person.

If you do not comply with the conditions on a PPD, you could be charged with a criminal offence of contravention of a PPD. The offence is punishable by up to approximately $20,000.00 or three years imprisonment.

What happens if you receive a PPD but don’t agree with it?

The aggrieved, the respondent, and authorised persons for the aggrieved and the named person may apply for a police review of a PPD within 28 days after the notice.

The aggrieved or respondent can also, at any time during the 12 months the PPD is in force, make an application to a Magistrates Court to review the PPD.

On such an application, the court will be required to consider whether a protection order is necessary or desirable at the time of review, not at the time the PPD was issued. The court may make an order setting aside the PPD or decide to dismiss the application for a review. The court may also make any order that is currently available to it in relation to hearing a DVPO application.

Importantly, the implementation or operation of the PPD is not affected by having commenced a review of it via either of the above avenues.

Seeking legal advice from a criminal lawyer

If you are served with a PPD, you should contact a lawyer immediately to ensure you understand the obligations imposed on you by the PPD and explore any appeal rights you may have if you do not agree with its imposition.

Contacting Gilshenan & Luton Lawyers

📞 07 3361 0222  (24/7)

📧 gnl@gnl.com.au

Further reading:

• Changes to the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act August 2023
• Breach of domestic violence orders when encouraged by the aggrieved
• Costs in domestic violence protection order matters