New coercive control laws have been introduced in New South
Wales to address non-physical forms of domestic abuse. The
Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Act 2022
amends the Crimes Act 1900, creating a new offence of
coercive control that came into effect on 1 July 2024.
The aim of the new offence is to protect victims from patterns
of behaviour that intimidate, control, or harm them.
This offence involves engaging in a course of abusive conduct
against an intimate partner with the intent to coerce or
control.
What Is Coercive Control?
Coercive control is a pattern of abusive behaviours used to
dominate or control another person by hurting, humiliating,
isolating, frightening, or threatening them. It is usually seen
within domestic and family violence.
