DVO and PVRO in the Northern Territory: Orders, Breach Penalties and Firearms

In the Northern Territory, a Domestic Violence Order (DVO) protects people in a domestic relationship, while a Personal Violence Restraining Order (PVRO) protects everyone else, and breaching either order carries a maximum penalty of 400 penalty units (currently $77,600) or 2 years imprisonment.

If you are in immediate danger, call 000. For confidential domestic, family or sexual violence counselling and support, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, available 24 hours a day, every day.

What the Northern Territory Calls These Orders

The Northern Territory splits protection orders across two separate Acts rather than using one law for every case. A Domestic Violence Order (DVO), under the Domestic and Family Violence Act 2007 (NT), applies only where the two people are in a domestic relationship as the Act defines it (section 3(1)(a)). A Personal Violence Restraining Order (PVRO), under the Personal Violence Restraining Orders Act 2016 (NT), applies to everyone else, and its own objects clause cross-refers to the 2007 Act's domestic-relationship definition to mark that boundary. If you search for "AVO," you will not find that term used in either Act; DVO and PVRO are the correct search terms locally. For how this compares with other states and territories, see the Australia AVO and protection order overview.

Domestic Violence Orders (DVO)

A DVO can be made where the issuing authority is satisfied there are reasonable grounds for the protected person to fear the commission of domestic violence, under section 18. This is an objective test: a note to section 18(1) confirms the protected person does not personally have to feel or prove fear.

Three categories of people can apply for a Local Court DVO under section 28: the person in the domestic relationship (adult or young person), an adult acting on their behalf, or a police officer. There are three tracks to getting one:

• A Local Court DVO through a full application, under sections 28 to 33.
• A consent DVO, agreed between the parties, under sections 38 to 40.
• A police DVO, made on the spot by an authorised police officer (a senior sergeant or above, or an officer in charge) when it is urgent or impracticable to go to court first, under section 41, then confirmed or not by the court afterwards under Part 2.10.

A final DVO runs for whatever period the order itself states; the Act sets no default length or cap (section 27). An interim DVO stays in force under section 35(3) until it is revoked or replaced by the final Local Court DVO between the same parties.

Breaching a DVO

Section 120 makes contravening a DVO a strict-liability offence (section 120(3)). Section 121(1) sets the adult penalty at up to 400 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years, currently $77,600 at the Northern Territory's 2026-27 rate of $194 per penalty unit; section 122 sets an identical maximum for a young person.

The Act also carries a mandatory minimum: under section 121(2), a court that finds a person breached a DVO for a repeat time must record a conviction and impose at least 7 days of actual imprisonment. Section 121(3) allows a harm-based or appropriateness exception, and section 121(4) excludes breaches of an unconfirmed police DVO from the mandatory minimum.

The Act's own note to section 21(2) points to sections 39 and 40 of the Firearms Act 1997, and the Firearms Act's own text confirms it: an interim DVO automatically suspends a firearms licence, permit or certificate of registration until the order is confirmed or revoked (section 39(1)), and a final DVO being made automatically revokes it (section 40(1)(a)).

Personal Violence Restraining Orders (PVRO)

A PVRO protects someone who is not in a domestic relationship with the other person, based on the balance of probabilities that a personal violence offence has been, or is likely to be, committed, under section 15(1); a different and arguably narrower test than the DVO's fear-based standard. The protected person, an adult acting for them, or a police officer may apply, under section 10. A defendant cannot be a child under 15, under section 11(2) (the Australian Capital Territory's equivalent age is 14; see family violence orders and personal protection orders in the ACT).

A distinctive feature of the PVRO process is mandatory referral to mediation through the Community Justice Centre Act 2005 before the court hears the application, under section 14(1), unless the court finds referral inappropriate, for example where there is a history of violence, under section 14(2). The DVO process has no equivalent mediation-first step.

We could not locate a dedicated duration provision in the PVRO Act; in practice an order appears to run for whatever period the court sets, matching the DVO pattern, but no specific section confirms this.

Breaching a PVRO

Section 23 sets the same maximum as a DVO breach: up to 400 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years (strict liability, section 23(3)), currently $77,600 at the current $194-per-unit rate. Breaching a non-publication condition specifically carries its own lower tier under section 24: up to 200 penalty units or 1 year, currently $38,800.

A PVRO matching its own jurisdiction's DVO ceiling is unusual; most other Australian states and territories set a materially lower maximum for their non-domestic order than for their domestic one.

The PVRO Act's own text contains no firearms provision, but the consequence lives in the Firearms Act 1997 instead: section 39(1) automatically suspends a firearms licence, permit or certificate of registration on the making of an interim PVRO, the same rule as an interim DVO, and section 40(1)(a) automatically revokes it once a PVRO is made against the holder, on the same footing as a final DVO.

Family Violence, Housing and Evidence

A DVO or PVRO can affect other parts of a person's life beyond the order itself. Where family violence is involved, a tenant may be able to end a residential lease early; see breaking a lease because of family violence. Parenting arrangements made or varied around the time of a DVO are handled separately through family law; see parenting orders in Australia. If you are weighing whether to record an abuser as evidence, Northern Territory surveillance-devices law still governs what you can lawfully record; see Australia's recording laws by state and territory for the caveat.

Interstate Recognition (NDVOS)

Under the National Domestic Violence Order Scheme, a DVO made anywhere in Australia from 25 November 2017 onward is automatically recognised and enforceable in every other state and territory, with no extra paperwork. A DVO made before that date is not automatically covered; it can be declared a nationally recognised order at any local court in Australia. A PVRO is different: as a personal, non-domestic order, it is not covered by the scheme at all. If you need a PVRO enforced outside the Northern Territory, it must be separately registered in the state or territory where you need it enforced.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a DVO and a PVRO in the Northern Territory?

A Domestic Violence Order (DVO) applies where the two people are in a domestic relationship, under the Domestic and Family Violence Act 2007. A Personal Violence Restraining Order (PVRO) applies where they are not, under the Personal Violence Restraining Orders Act 2016. The two Acts use different tests for making an order and different application processes, though the maximum breach penalty is the same for both.

How much can I be fined for breaching a DVO or PVRO in the Northern Territory?

Both offences carry a maximum of 400 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years. At the Northern Territory's 2026-27 penalty unit rate of $194, 400 penalty units currently converts to $77,600. Breaching a non-publication condition of a PVRO specifically carries a lower maximum of 200 penalty units, or 1 year, currently $38,800.

Is there a mandatory jail term for breaching a DVO in the Northern Territory?

Yes, for a repeat breach. Section 121(2) of the Domestic and Family Violence Act requires the court to record a conviction and impose at least 7 days of actual imprisonment where a person is found to have contravened a DVO for a repeat time. A harm-based exception applies under section 121(3), and breaches of an unconfirmed police DVO are excluded under section 121(4).

Will my Northern Territory DVO be recognised if I move interstate?

Yes, if it was made on or after 25 November 2017. Under the National Domestic Violence Order Scheme, a DVO made from that date is automatically enforceable in every other Australian state and territory with no extra paperwork. A DVO made earlier can be declared a nationally recognised order at any local court in Australia.

Does a PVRO affect my firearms licence in the Northern Territory?

Yes. The Personal Violence Restraining Orders Act's own text says nothing about firearms, but the Firearms Act 1997 does: an interim PVRO automatically suspends a firearms licence, permit or certificate of registration (section 39(1)), and a PVRO being made automatically revokes it (section 40(1)(a)), the same footing as a final DVO.

Do I need a lawyer to apply for a DVO or PVRO in the Northern Territory?

No. The protected person, an adult acting on their behalf, or a police officer can apply for either order without a lawyer, though getting legal advice before an application or a hearing is often worthwhile, particularly if the other party contests it.