Feedback on the Criminal Law Consolidation (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2023 – October 2023

YACSA has participated in previous Department of Human Services and Attorney-General’s Department consultations on coercive control and welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft Criminal Law Consolidation (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2023, especially as young people and their understanding and attitude towards violence against women are a key part of prevention.

Domestic and family violence (DFV) is at an epidemic level across Australia and many jurisdictions are beginning to recognise the impacts of non-physical forms of DFV like coercive control behaviours. YACSA understands the State Government wants to send a strong message to the community that coercive control is unacceptable and recognises the importance of this. YACSA’s focus is not necessarily on the details of the drafted legislation but on what is needed outside of legislative reform to support the effectiveness of coercive control criminalisation and the overarching aim of minimising the impacts of coercive control within the community.