Canberra Liberals call for education campaign on coercive control
Deputy Opposition Leader and Shadow Minister for Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Leanne Castley, will today call on the Labor-Greens government to implement an education campaign on coercive control.
Ms Castley said that, as foreshadowed in her recent announcement she would shortly introduce a private members bill to criminalise coercive control, an education campaign should be conducted concurrently which:
outlines that coercive control is incompatible with respectful relationships
educates on unacceptable coercive behaviours are and how to identify them
highlights that coercive control can impact anyone in an intimate or domestic relationship
is accessible to Indigenous, culturally and linguistically diverse communities
Ms Castley said her motion in the ACT Assembly also called on Labor to commit additional funding in the 2024-25 budget to frontline domestic violence services: in particular, to expanding ACT Policing’s Family Violence Unit.
“Coercive control is a form of domestic and family violence characterised by abusive behaviour designed to exercise domination in a relationship. It precedes almost all intimate partner domestic violence homicides.
“Coercive control behaviours include, but are not limited to, threats of violence, deprivation of liberty, financial coercion, social and cultural isolation, stalking and intimidation, reproductive coercion, psychological manipulation, threats of suicide and threats against other people and animals.”
Ms Castley said legislation criminalising coercive control had been passed in NSW, Queensland, and Tasmania, and was under development or consideration in WA and SA, but that the ACT government had been sitting on its hands.
“Criminalising coercive control in the ACT, and educating the community about this form of abuse, is a critical step towards cultural change and saving lives.
“The community is desperately calling for cultural change and a stronger response to domestic and family violence. An education campaign on coercive control needs to begin as soon as possible.”
The Australian Federal Police Association has expressed its support for the criminalisation of coercive control, stating that stronger legislation and a standalone offence was needed to combat this scourge.
