Murder of Intimate Partner: How Mackenzie Anderson’s Death Led to Landmark NSW Law Reform
Mackenzie Anderson was murdered by her former intimate partner, Tyrone Thompson in Mayfield (near Newcastle) in 2022. Ever since, her mother, Tabitha Acret has been advocating for harsher penalties for those who murder their intimate partners in NSW. On 18 November 2025, years of advocacy proved to be worthwhile as NSW was the first jurisdiction in Australia to increase the minimum non-parole period for intimate partner homicide.
In March 2022, Tyrone Thompson was released from custody on parole. He was incarcerated as a result of committing domestic violence offences against Mackenzie. In the lead up to his release, Tyrone admitted asking her friends for her number so that he could contact her upon his release. However, what followed would change the lives of not only Mackenzie and Tyrone, but it would lead to NSW being the first Australian state to pass law reform that reflects the seriousness of intimate partner homicide. On that fateful night in March 2022, Tyrone breached an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order by tracking down Mackenzie’s location and breaking into her home. Neighbours reported hearing Tyrone screaming “f**k ya, stab me, stab me, stab me” and saw Mackenzie pressed against a window, trying to break it and escape. Tyrone was too powerful and stabbed her 78 times. She died minutes later while on the phone to Police begging for help. When Tyrone received a sentence of 22 years and 6 months, with a non-parole period of only 15 years, Tabitha was outraged, saying outside Court, “While this may be thought as a good outcome by the courts, we are disgusted that this sentence is what they think the value of my daughter’s life was worth”. Tabitha recognises that no sentence will ever bring justice to a family who has lost a loved one at the hands of their partner, however she has advocated for the punishment associated with such a violent crime to be increase.
On 18 November 2025, the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences) Bill 2025 passed NSW Parliament which amended the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 to increase the standard non-parole period for murder, where the victim is an intimate partner to 25 years. This is a 25% increase on the standard non-parole period for murder, and the highest non-parole period for any crime in the state. Attorney General Michael Daley said “It’s vital that sentencing reflects the gravity of this crime, and its impact on victims’ families and the broader community. This important change means domestic violence killers will be subject to the highest non-parole periods available in NSW.”