Ailan Life First stage in legislating against coercive control passes Parliament

The Domestic and Family Violence Protection (Combating Coercive Control) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 has passed.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said coercive control was at the core of domestic and family violence.

“It is a pattern of deliberate behaviours perpetrated against a person to create a climate of fear, isolation, intimidation and humiliation,” she said.

The legislation strengthens laws to address the patterned nature of coercive control, and lays the foundation to create a standalone offence of coercive control later this year.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman said it was a significant step toward achieving the Government’s commitment to legislate against coercive control.

“We know how dangerous these behaviours can be,” she said.

“This is about identifying and responding to the red flags of coercive control earlier before blue police tape surrounds another family home.”

The amendments will:

• modernise and strengthen the offence of unlawful stalking in the Criminal Code to better capture the broad range of tactics used by perpetrators;

Each week we will publish a pic showing the Ailan way of life in the Torres Strait and the NPA – the kids swimming, a BBQ at the beach, fishing, scenic shot, etc – from local photographers and readers across our region. Just email us your pic of Ailan Life along with your name, phone number and a 25-word description to ads@torres.news

This week’s pics were submitted by Yalena

Mosby and Katherine Robinson.

ABOVE: Yalena’s sunset pic was taken from the Quarantine ramp looking Friday and Goodie Island. “Island living means having a front row seat of nature’s performance,” Yalena said.

BELOW: Katherine’s sunset view pic was taken at Bach Beach.

Yalena and Katherine are now in the draw to win this month’s $150 gift card! Good luck!

• broaden the definition of domestic and family violence to include behaviour that occurs over time and should be considered in the context of the whole relationship;

• strengthen the court’s response to cross applications for protection orders to ensure the protection of the person most at risk;

• broaden the court’s ability to award costs to help prevent using the legal process to further abuse victims;

• strengthen the consideration of previous domestic violence or criminal history;

• bring domestic violence complainants and other witnesses within the protected witness scheme; and

• allow for the giving of jury directions and expert evidence on domestic violence.

Women’s Legal Service Queensland CEO, Nadia Bromley said they welcomed the Bill.

“It contains some of the many changes we need to see to improve the safety of women in Queensland,” she said.

“We look forward to the implementation of all the recommendations of the Hear Her Voice reports and the Commission of Inquiry into the Queensland Police Responses to Domestic and Family Violence.”