Specialist Aboriginal family violence prevention and legal service SiS Tasmania has welcomed the Domestic, Family & Sexual Violence Commission's third report.

Released by Commissioner Micaela Cronin and tabled in Federal Parliament this week, the report calls for earlier intervention, stronger action on sexual violence, and addressing harms caused by family law and justice systems.

The Commission's Yearly Report to Parliament found efforts and investment to address domestic, family and sexual violence are not yet delivering the impact needed to change the trajectory for people affected by it.

Jake Smith, CEO of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service - the operator of SiS Tasmania - said among a number of items, Commissioner Cronin highlighted family law and justice systems continue to deliver unacceptable levels of harm to those experiencing and impacted by domestic, family and sexual violence.

"The Commissioner stated while several jurisdictions have substantially increased investment, recent budget decisions in some states including Tasmania, saw a reduction in identified domestic, family and sexual violence funding in the 2026-27 budget," Mr Smith said.

"The report specifically called out reductions in the 2026-27 budget for several legal assistance service providers and also highlighted the need to ensure those experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence have timely access to specialist legal assistance services and that those services have sustainable funding."

The report found in 2024, reports of sexual violence in Australia were at their highest level in 33 years while finding in the past year there has been an average average decrease of less than 1 per cent nationally - the first decrease in 15 years.

It identified two "persistent areas" where Australians continue to experience unacceptable levels of harm: the family law and justice systems, and sexual violence.

Mr Smith said the legal assistance sector is one key service within the spectrum of services which provides valuable support to those experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence.

"Demand for services that support those impacted continues to rise, right across the state and the sector, including those who seek specialist services like ours," he said.

Commissioner Cronin said the scale of sexual violence in Australia demands sustained national investment and action, commensurate with the scale of the problem.

"Collectively, we must send a clear message that these behaviours are not acceptable, and that people who have experienced sexual violence will be heard, treated with dignity and respect, and supported through their justice and healing journey," she said.

The Commission also found that family law and justice systems continue to be a site of ongoing weaponisation and harm.

"What I have consistently heard from people who have experienced domestic, family and sexual violence is that family law and justice systems can, and too often do, become another source of harm," Commissioner Cronin said.

"These systems can be weaponised to compound trauma, continue coercive or other controlling behaviours and prolong recovery.

"When people seek protection, accountability and support, the systems around them should help keep them safe. Too often, that is not what is happening."

Mr Smith said the report also highlighted the need for earlier intervention resourcing.

"If service organisations like ours are enabled to deliver earlier intervention and prevention supports to those at risk of family violence, we'll better have an opportunity to prevent family violence from happening in the first place, Mr Smith said.

"You can't simply propose changes to the Family Violence Act, like the State Government recently announced, and consider this a job well done.

"You also need to consider the impacts of this on victim-survivors seeking support services over there and ensure they are adequately resourced to support the changes.

"Reducing the budget and subsequently funding for service providers won't get the job done."

The full report can be found online.

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