In an unprecedented move, Queensland’s parliament has passed legislation that will see coercive control in relationships criminalized, marking a significant step forward in the fight against domestic abuse. This landmark decision has sparked conversations across the nation about the nature of abusive relationships and the hidden dangers of coercive behavior.
The newly passed legislation introduces a standalone offence for coercive control, carrying a hefty penalty of up to 14 years in prison. Coercive control encompasses a range of manipulative, isolating, and controlling behaviors within a relationship, including but not limited to verbal abuse, financial domination, emotional manipulation, and social isolation. Premier Steven Miles emphasized the significance of this move, stating, “Coercive control might be subtle but it is insidious and it does cost lives.”
Tireless Advocacy and Education as Key to Change
ABC News reports that the push for this legislation was fueled by years of advocacy and the tragic stories of victims and survivors of domestic and family violence. Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman highlighted the pivotal role that advocacy played, particularly in the wake of the murders of Hannah Clarke and her three children. This tragedy, along with the murder of Allison Baden-Clay in 2012, brought the issue of coercive control to the forefront of public consciousness in Queensland.
The legislation also owes much to the courageous individuals and families who have come forward with their stories, advocating for change. Lloyd Clarke, whose daughter Hannah Clarke’s murder was a catalyst for the legislation, emphasized the importance of community education on the issue. “The state government has listened to the lived experience of victims and survivors, but now we must work together to educate Queenslanders to recognize coercive control red flags,” he said.
Labor MP Jonty Bush, who shared her personal connection to the issue through her sister’s murder, underlined the importance of the bill in capturing the nuanced patterns of coercive control. “This bill — against a backdrop of many years of advocacy by the community, by victims, by survivors and by groups, and the education and reform piece that has gone into this — will capture that pattern of behaviour that is, by definition, coercive control and it will recognise that as a crime in and of itself,” Bush stated.
The legislation’s passage was met with broad support, including from Shadow Attorney-General Tim Nicholls, who acknowledged the importance of addressing the “black heart of behaviour” seen in coercive control scenarios. The new laws also introduce offences for those aiding perpetrators of domestic abuse — such as contacting, intimidating or surveilling a person – on behalf of a person named in a domestic violence order. This further widens the net to catch those facilitating abusive environments.
Queensland’s bold step towards criminalizing coercive control represents a monumental shift in the legal landscape, recognizing the complex and often hidden dynamics of abusive relationships. As the state and its communities work towards greater awareness and prevention, this legislation stands as a beacon of hope for victims and survivors, promising a safer, more just future.
