Should it be a crime to exert coercive control over a domestic partner?

In a move met with a mixed response from family violence experts, a law has been introduced into New South Wales parliament which aims to make it a criminal offence to isolate and control a domestic partner through coercive means.

The Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Amendment Bill 2020 seeks to introduce the offence of ‘coercive control' within the context of a domestic relationship into the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 – which is a piece of legislation containing offences such as stalking or intimidation as well as contravening an apprehended violence order.

The proposed offence is also known as ‘Preethi's Law' in memory of Preethi Reddy, who was murdered by her former partner.