In February 2023, the Domestic and Family Violence Protection
(Combating Coercive Control) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill
2022 passed through Queensland Parliament. In recent years, there
has been a growing recognition of the need to expand the legal
framework for domestic violence beyond physical violence to include
the complex dynamics of power and coercive control that often
underlie abusive relationships.
The introduction of the Domestic and Family Violence
Protection (Combating Coercive Control) and Other Legislation
Amendment Act 2023 (Qld) (the Act) to
criminalise coercive control is a step forward in addressing
domestic violence.
What is coercive control?
Coercive control involves a repeated pattern of behaviours that
are aimed at maintaining power and control over a partner, often
through tactics such as isolation, intimidation, and humiliation.
These behaviours can create an environment of fear and dependency,
which make it difficult for the
