Victoria to outlaw strangulation and consider making animal cruelty a domestic violence offence

Victorian attorney general Jaclyn Symes described non-fatal strangulation by a partner as the ‘reddest of red flags’ as the government moves to create new offences. Photograph: James Ross/AAP

Victoria will make non-fatal strangulation a stand-alone offence and consider including cruelty to animals under the state’s family violence laws.

Describing the act as the “reddest of red flags”, the attorney general, Jaclyn Symes, on Wednesday announced the crimes amendment (non-fatal strangulation) bill would be introduced to parliament.