But not everyone was in favour of the changes, with defence lawyers panning the reforms as a knee-jerk reaction that would not address the root cause of family violence.

Attorney-General Simon Corbell said he would introduce new laws to the Legislative Assembly to make strangulation an offence and allow prosecutors to use a victim's initial police statement as evidence in court.

Mr Corbell outlined the reforms at an extraordinary meeting of the territory's Domestic Violence Prevention Council on Thursday.

ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner John Hinchey said the changes were an indication the government had an appetite for legislative reform that would offer greater protection to those who experience domestic violence.

"These are achievable reforms and there is a lot more work to do," he said.

"We need to ensure the momentum we're currently seeing in the community, and its will to tackle domestic violence, is sustainable in the long term to achieve lasting change."

However, Canberra defence lawyer Adrian McKenna, of Ben Aulich & Associates, said the proposed legislation was a knee-jerk reaction that wouldn't address the real problem of domestic violence in the community.

"The focus needs to be on prevention which is best done through investing in education, counselling and support services," Mr McKenna said.

"There is no need for a separate offence for choking just as there isn't a need for an offence of slapping, punching or kicking.

"It is an assault, pure and simple."

Lawyer Paul Edmonds, of Paul Edmonds & Associates, said the proposed changes appeared to be prompted by response to recent high profile domestic violence cases.

He argued the laws would be a grave infringement of an accused's right to a fair trial.

"This is the exact opposite of the presumption of innocence," Mr Edmonds said.

"They appear to be based upon a presumption that a complaint made shortly after the event will usually be true, but experiences in the courts shows that sometimes people do make false complaints which can be quite serious, for all sorts of motives.

"Not all men accused of domestic violence are guilty."

Mr Edmonds said the reforms would result in a flood of unnecessary domestic violence orders where not all complainants wanted or needed one.

"Such orders have significant consequences for a person's employment where a working with vulnerable people background check is required, even though such orders are made ex parte without the court hearing the respondent's version of events."

More order applications would also strain police, court and legal aid resources, he said.

Members of the Domestic Violence Prevention Council will prepare a report for Mr Corbell to inform the ACT government before the Council of Australian Governments' meeting on family violence.

Women's Minister Yvette Berry said Thursday's meeting brought together politicians, support service workers and people who had experienced domestic violence.

"We're keen for action to be taken but they wanted that to be informed and evidence-based," she said.

Ms Berry said it highlighted the need for more resources to be directed toward prevention.

"It showed the things we're doing are innovative, we just need to do some things better."