The 45-year-old handed himself in to officers on Thursday morning after the 39-year-old woman was struck with a kitchen knife in the neck, head and back the previous afternoon.
The woman was allegedly attacked as she left Crunch Fitness at Alexandria, in the city's inner south, before the offender fled as others intervened.
A witness said the woman was helped upstairs into the gym, where staff began first-aid. (Sam Lock/AAP PHOTOS)
Police said the suspect had been in a brief relationship with the victim.
The woman was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.
The North Manly man has been charged with causing wounding or grievous bodily harm to a person with the intent to murder, as well as contravening an AVO.
He was refused bail to appear before Manly Local Court on Friday.
The man has been refused bail to appear before Manly Local Court on Friday. (Supplied/AAP PHOTOS)
Premier Chris Minns was asked at a press conference on Thursday about a number of alleged domestic violence attacks.
Mr Minns said his government was exploring all options as part of its response to a growing problem.
Courts made more than 39,000 apprehended domestic violence orders in the past 12 months and the government was investigating how people subject to them were monitored, he said.
Electronic tracking would be investigated but the premier flagged challenges around cost and resourcing.
The state opposition is pushing for electronic monitoring of parolees to be extended to people on bail and making this a presumed condition when they are accused of serious personal violence offences.
"Electronic monitoring of offenders is not new ground, it operates successfully in other contexts," shadow attorney-general Alister Henskens said.
Police remained at the scene of the attack on Wednesday night. (Sam Lock/AAP PHOTOS)
Domestic violence perpetrators were almost 33 per cent less likely to reoffend and nearly 20 per cent less likely to breach an order when tracked, according to 2023 Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research data.
"It's not a knee-jerk reaction, rather a commonsense approach to protect women," Mr Henskens said.
Attorney-General Michael Daley said advocates urged cabinet not to rush reforms around bail and electronic monitoring.
"There are instances where it does not work, it does not protect the woman and the woman in question does not feel safe," he said.
"The legislation we bring to the parliament will be modelled, will be costed, will be consulted on, will not be motivated by politics … and it will form a part of a broader package."
The government has announced a $230 million package to address domestic violence through early prevention and education as well as support for women's refuges.
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