The report found strong support for criminalising coercive control as a standalone offence
The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) has released a landmark report revealing that victim-survivors largely support the criminalisation of coercive control while highlighting the need for improved justice responses and support services.
The findings were announced by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, underscoring the importance of addressing coercive control as a significant factor in family and domestic violence.
Coercive control refers to a sustained pattern of abusive behaviour intended to dominate and manipulate another person. It can involve physical and non-physical abuse, fostering fear and restricting the victim’s freedom and independence. The behaviour often underpins family and domestic violence, making its recognition essential for an effective national response.
The AIC report, based on 130 in-depth interviews with female victim-survivors across Australia, found overwhelming in-principle support for criminalising coercive control as a standalone offence. Victim-survivors viewed this as a significant step toward enhancing the safety of women and children and holding perpetrators accountable.
“For a number of victim-survivors, the criminalisation of coercive control was heralded as a key turning point with the potential to improve the safety of women and children”, the report noted.
However, the research also highlighted concerns regarding the practical implementation of these laws. Participants expressed doubts about law enforcement’s capacity to identify and respond to coercive control effectively and raised concerns about potential re-traumatisation through the court process. Proving coercive control in a criminal justice setting remains a significant challenge.
The report builds on the National Principles to Address Coercive Control, endorsed in 2023 by the Standing Council of Attorneys-General. These principles established a shared understanding of coercive control for the first time in Australia and signalled growing national attention on the issue.
The federal government has introduced recent measures to address gender-based violence and improve justice responses. These include legislation passed last month aimed at enhancing the experiences of sexual violence victims within the justice system. The Australian Law Reform Commission is also conducting an inquiry into justice responses to sexual violence, with a report expected by January 2025.
The full report is available on the AIC website.
