The reforms would criminalise coercive control, an often difficult to detect form of abuse in which a perpetrator tries to control their victim, causing them to act against their own wishes or best interests.

The reform marks the culmination of extensive consultation with the legal profession, peak DV prevention advocacy groups, victim-survivors and the broader community.

The Bill would criminalise controlling behaviours within both current and former intimate partner relationships that restrict one or more of the following aspects of the victim’s life:

• Freedom of movement
• Freedom of action
• Ability to engage in social, political, religious, cultural, educational or economic activities
• Ability to make decisions with respect to their body
• Ability to access the justice system, basic necessities, support services or property they own.

The Bill would require the prosecution to prove the behaviour had a controlling impact that would be likely to cause physical injury or psychological harm, to ensure the laws capture only genuine instances of coercive control.