Queensland’s Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman has hailed it as “an historic day” as the Palaszczuk government introduces new laws criminalizing coercive control. Offenders who are found guilty will face up to 14 years in jail. Similar coercive control laws have already been passed in New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia has also committed to enacting similar legislation.
Coercive control is a form of abuse where perpetrators use various tactics to intimidate and isolate their victims. This includes emotional, mental, and financial abuse, isolation, intimidation, sexual coercion, and cyberstalking. The new laws in Queensland will cover conduct where adult perpetrators engage in a pattern of domestic violence against their partners with the intent to coerce or control, which would likely cause harm to the victim.
The legislation also takes into account acts committed on behalf of the perpetrator, as recommended by the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce. Furthermore, the new laws will criminalize stealthing, which involves removing a condom during sex without consent, treating it as rape with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Sue and Lloyd Clarke, whose daughter Hannah and her children tragically died in a domestic violence incident, also spoke at the state parliament. They expressed their gratitude that the government has listened to their stories and advocated for the criminalization of coercive control. The Clarkes operate the Small Steps 4 Hannah Foundation, which aims to educate children and support victims of domestic violence.
The proposed legislation to criminalize stealthing has also been welcomed by advocates. Di Macleod, director of the Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence, supports the move and believes it reflects the reality of sexual violence and improves victims’ access to justice.
However, men’s advocate Bettina Arndt warns of false allegations being made against men and expresses concerns about fair treatment in the legal system. She cites a case in NSW where a woman falsely accused her ex-husband of rape, domestic violence, and assault. Arndt emphasizes the need for consequences for those who maliciously use false allegations to weaponize the legal system.
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that partner emotional abuse affects 2.3 million women compared to 1.3 million men. Additionally, 1.7 million women have experienced physical or sexual abuse, while the figure for men is 526,600. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please seek help from organizations such as 1800 RESPECT, Lifeline, or the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service.