COERCIVE CONTROL CAMPAIGN WELCOMED BUT DOUBTS REMAIN ABOUT ACT GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT FOR LEGISLATION

Leanne Castley MLA

Leader of the ACT Liberals

Media Release

27 May 2025

Watch video here.

The ACT Liberal Opposition Leader Leanne Castley MLA has today welcomed the launch of a public awareness campaign to build greater awareness of coercive control but is doubtful that the ACT Labor government will legislate the offence.

Ms Castley’s coercive control motion in March this year that was passed by the Legislative Assembly called for a review of the current legal framework followed by the introduction of legislation by the end of 2025.

“We need to build greater awareness and understanding of coercive control in the community, how we can identify the signs of it and intervene to protect women and families before violence occurs,” Ms Castley said.

“The ACT is one of the last jurisdictions in the nation where legislation has not been passed to prevent coercive control and it’s high time we stepped up to the plate and protected women and families.

“But I remain incredibly sceptical about the commitment of ACT Labor to introduce legislation.  They opposed my Private Members Bill last year, meaning hundreds of women and families have been left languishing without legal protection.

“The ACT Labor government have a history of putting the rights of perpetrators above those of victims, hiding behind a bizarre human rights argument. Preventing coercive control means protecting women, children and families.”

Ms Castley introduced legislation – the Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill – to create the offence in June 2024 but the Bill was rejected by the Assembly in August 2024, after Labor and the Greens decided to vote against it.

“An awareness campaign is the first step but it’s not enough. We must have legislation that allows police officers and the courts to intervene and deal with this problem properly,” Ms Castley said.

“Without legislation, it’s nothing more than window dressing and we know that coercive control legislation has the support of many stakeholders including the Australian Federal Police Association.

“I just hope that ACT Labor don’t go week in the knees and think that a campaign is enough to prevent coercive control and domestic violence.”

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