Shakira Robertson’s campaign to have vehicles legally recognised as weapons in domestic violence assaults has been elevated to the national stage, marking a significant milestone for trauma-informed justice reform in Tasmania.
Tasmanian advocate Shakira Robertson has been awarded the Young People’s Award at the 2025 Australian Human Rights Awards for her tireless work in preventing domestic and family violence.
Robertson received the honour at a ceremony in Sydney on Friday night 12 December 2025, recognised for her efforts to transform Tasmania’s systemic response to family violence through trauma-informed advocacy.
Her campaigning stems from personal tragedy.
In March 2023, her mother Jacqui Lee Purton was killed by a former partner who used a vehicle as a weapon. Following her mother’s death, Robertson, then just 20, became the primary carer for her three younger brothers.
She has since championed ‘Jacqui’s Law’, a legislative reform calling for vehicles to be classified as weapons in domestic violence cases to ensure stricter sentencing for offenders. Her advocacy highlights the need for the legal system to better recognise the use of vehicles as instruments of terror and lethal force in abusive relationships.
In accepting the award, she joins a distinguished group of 2025 recipients, including Arrernte man William Tilmouth (NT), who received the Human Rights Medal for his lifelong dedication to justice and self-determination for First Peoples.
Australian Human Rights Commission President Hugh de Kretser praised the recipients for their transformative impact.
‘The people and organisations we celebrate tonight are united by a commitment to human rights,’ de Kretser said.
‘They are transforming lives from healthcare and education to law, the arts and the environment.’
Other winners included Ben Doherty (NSW) for Media and Creative Industries, Coroner Elisabeth Armitage (NT) for Law and Ramnik Singh Walia (NT) for the Community Award.
Robertson’s recognition places a national spotlight on the urgent need for judicial reform in Tasmania and supports her ongoing fight to protect victims of family violence.
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