New South Wales has become the first Australian state to introduce a stand-alone offence of coercive control, with the legislation passing parliament on Wednesday. The new law targets patterns of psychological, sexual, spiritual, and financial abuse that often precede domestic violence homicides. Perpetrators face up to seven years in jail, but the law applies only to current or former partner relationships and is not retroactive.
Attorney General Mark Speakman defended the decision to proceed without extended consultation, stating the government could have spent years 'chasing the perfect' but instead acted to 'save lives'. He noted that coercive control is 'almost invariably a precursor to intimate partner domestic violence homicide' and described it as 'domestic terrorism'. The law includes an implementation period of up to 19 months to allow for education of police, judicial officers, and the public.
However, the legislation has drawn criticism from domestic violence experts and advocates. Renata Field, CEO of Domestic Violence NSW, called for further consultation and stressed the need for evidence-based training for police and the judiciary before the law takes effect. Former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty warned that insufficient consultation could retraumatise victim-survivors.
Christine Robinson, CEO of Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women's Legal Centre, raised concerns that the narrow definition of relationships fails to account for Aboriginal community experiences. She cautioned that without thorough cultural and systems reform, the law could harm rather than protect Aboriginal women. The government has pledged to review the legislation within two years.
