TRISH DOYLE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE
 
CRIMINALISING COERCIVE CONTROL

 
The Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Trish Doyle has re-affirmed Labor’s commitment to criminalising coercive and controlling behaviour in NSW following three days of public hearings.
 
Coercive control is a form of domestic abuse involving repeated patterns of physical, sexual, psychological, emotional or financial abuse. It is often a precursor to intimate partner homicide.
 
Ms Doyle is the Deputy Chair of the NSW Parliamentary Joint Select Committee examining coercive control which gathered this week to hear evidence from a range of witnesses including domestic violence services, legal groups, academics, international bodies and victim-survivors.
 
Ms Doyle said there’s overwhelming evidence legislation must include measures to deal with coercive control.
 
“Domestic and family violence offences take many shapes and forms. What they have in common is the intention of perpetrators to control and assert power over their victims,” she said.
 
“Reform in this area is happening around the world, particularly in the UK, where courts have seen a doubling of prosecutions as domestic violence is recognised as more than a one off incident, but a pattern of harmful behaviour.
 
“The law sends a strong signal to everyone in the community about what is and isn’t acceptable.
 
“We have the opportunity to enact potentially life-saving, best practice legal reform in NSW.”
 
More than 140 written submissions have so far been received by the joint select committee. They have come from individual victim-survivors, researchers, frontline services and non-government organisations.
 
“My aim, and that of other committee members, is to hear the views from a wide range of voices and undertake thoughtful deliberations to ensure the very best outcome. I personally want to see gold standard legislation to criminalise coercive controlling behaviour,” Ms Doyle said.
 
“I acknowledge and thank everyone who has taken the time to write submissions to the committee.
 
“I especially acknowledge the women who testified, who, in the past, have found themselves, or who currently find themselves, in situations of coercive control.
 
“We know that they are doing that for the benefit of others and I commend them for that.”
 
WEDNESDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 2021