NSW has been the first Australian State or Territory to create a stand-alone offence for coercive control, with historic reforms passing Parliament last week.
Welcoming the passage of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Bill 2022, Premier Dominic Perrottet described coercive control as a form of domestic abuse that involved patterns of behaviour that had the cumulative effect of denying victim-survivors their autonomy and independence.
“The new law will make it an offence to carry out repeated abusive behaviours to a current or former intimate partner with the intent to coerce or control, and will carry a sentence of up to seven years in jail,” Mr Perrottet said.
“There is no doubt that these reforms, which are the first of their kind in this country, will help save lives and deter an abusive and controlling pattern of behaviour that is unacceptable,” he said.
State Attorney General, Mark Speakman said the landmark reforms were the product of unprecedented consultation, including at least eight rounds of consultation over two and a half years.
Mr Speakman said domestic abuse wasn’t just about physical violence, “perpetrators of domestic abuse also use physical, sexual, psychological and financial abuse to hurt and control their ‘loved one’”.
“Sadly, this behaviour is a known precursor to domestic violence deaths,” Mr Speakman said.
Minister for Women’s Safety and Domestic Violence, Natalie Ward said there would be an extensive implementation period of at least 14 months and up to 19 months before the laws commenced.
Mrs Ward said this would allow time for training, resourcing, education and raising community awareness.
