South Australians are being urged to help shape the way in which potential laws that would criminalise controlling and abusive behaviours would be implemented.
Coercive control can erode a victim’s confidence, cause long-term harm and is often a precursor to murder.
It occurs when an abuser seeks to control someone’s behaviour by attempting to isolate them from friends and family, controlling their finances or attempting to control how they behave.
Feedback from advocacy groups and the community highlighted the need to educate and raise awareness about coercive control.
Minister Josh Teague said the Attorney-General’s Department Discussion Paper will provide great insight to ensure any laws criminalising coercive control are successfully implemented.
“We know from listening to advocacy groups and the community that there is a real need for these laws in South Australia, but we also know that, if such laws pass the Parliament, how they are implemented will be crucial,” Minister Teague said.
“This Discussion Paper will also ascertain the best ways to raise awareness about this insidious form of domestic abuse.
“I commend the Attorney-General’s Department for consulting with the community on this important topic. Education and prevention are just as important as the introduction of new laws,” he said.
Assistant Minister for Domestic and Family Violence, Carolyn Power, said, “victim-survivors have told us more needs to be done to stop abusive, controlling behaviours in relationships that destroy lives and can lead to murder, but up until recently, have gone unchallenged in our society.
“As a community, we must do more.”
The discussion paper and details on how to make are submission are available at https://www.agd.sa.gov.au/coercive-control, with submissions open until 1 April.
