In a comprehensive review spanning two decades, coercive control has been identified as a critical factor in almost all domestic violence deaths in Canberra, Australia.
ABC News reports that over the span of twenty years, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has witnessed over 130 fatalities attributed to domestic violence. A thorough examination of 12 specific cases within this group uncovered that nearly all of them involved elements of coercive control, a form of abuse which manipulates and restricts the victim’s autonomy and freedom.
Notably, the study found that 75% of these cases did not involve physical violence prior to the death, emphasizing the lethal potential of psychological and emotional abuse.
The report also highlighted the disproportionate impact on culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, where domestic violence and coercive control often remain underreported and unrecognized. This finding points to the urgent need for targeted education and support services within these communities.
Calls for Education and Legal Reforms
Advocates and officials have responded to the report’s findings with calls for increased education on the nuances of domestic violence and coercive control in Australia.
Heidi Yates, the ACT’s Victims of Crime Commissioner, stressed the importance of recognizing the varied manifestations of abuse and intimidation. “It may be about stopping where someone goes in the community, stopping them from spending time with friends and family, controlling what they wear or what they eat or access to finances,” Yates explained [via ABC News], highlighting the diversity of control tactics that can precede lethal outcomes.
Sue Webeck, CEO of the ACT’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service, echoed the need for a better understanding and response to coercive control, which often does not fit traditional notions of abuse. “It is the subversive looks that have a threatening consequence to them. It is the fact that someone is put into position where they second-guess their own decision making,” Webeck said, underlining the subtlety and complexity of coercive behaviors.
Monitoring Legislative Responses
The ACT government is closely watching developments in other jurisdictions regarding the criminalization of coercive control.
With recent legislative changes in Queensland and proposed laws in New South Wales introducing penalties for coercive control offenses, the ACT is considering similar moves.
Currently, coercion is recognized as a form of family violence under the Family Violence Act in the ACT, allowing affected individuals to seek family violence orders (FVOs). Breaching an FVO carries significant penalties, including up to five years in prison or an $80,000 fine.
As the conversation around coercive control and its criminalization continues, advocates emphasize the critical need for comprehensive education and communication campaigns. These efforts aim to raise awareness within the community and among those responsible for responding to domestic violence, ensuring a more informed and effective approach to combating this hidden epidemic.
