State and federal legislators have acknowledged coercive control is one of the most dangerous and pervasive forms of domestic and family violence in Australia.

Characterised by repeated patterns of intimidation, isolation, monitoring and control, coercive control often occurs without physical violence yet can cause profound and long‑lasting harm. In response to growing evidence that coercive control underpins most domestic violence homicides, NSW and the Australian Government have passed laws to protect people from this form of abuse.

NSW became the first jurisdiction in Australia to criminalise coercive control in the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Act 2022

The law was expanded to include abusive behaviour towards a current or former intimate partner, with the intention of coercing or controlling them. A key feature of the law is its focus on patterns of behaviour over time, rather than isolated incidents.

Conduct may include financial abuse, psychological manipulation, social isolation or technological monitoring. The offence carries a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment.

At the federal level, there is currently no standalone criminal offence of coercive control, as criminal law remains primarily a state responsibility. However, coercive control is recognised and addressed through several important Commonwealth legal frameworks.

Under the Family Law Act 1975, coercive and controlling behaviours are expressly included in the definition of family violence and must be considered by federal family courts when making parenting orders, determining a child’s best interests, and issuing injunctions to protect parties from harm.

Evidence of coercive control can significantly influence outcomes in parenting disputes, even where no criminal charges have been laid.

The Australian Government has also led national policy coordination through the National Principles to Address Coercive Control in Family and Domestic Violence.

These principles establish a shared national understanding of coercive control, emphasising prevention, early intervention, culturally safe responses, and survivor‑led practice. While the principles are not legally binding, they guide law reform, service delivery and education across jurisdictions.

Coercive control is further recognised in federal strategies such as the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022–2032, which identifies coercive control as a key driver of serious harm and prioritises workforce training, data collection and community awareness.
A Complementary Framework.

“Together, NSW’s criminal offence and Commonwealth civil and policy frameworks form a layered response to coercive control,” said PSA CPSU NSW Women’s Industrial Officer Simone Scalmer. “While NSW law enables police intervention and prosecution, federal legislation ensures coercive control is treated as a critical risk factor in family law proceedings. “The challenge ahead lies not in further definition, but in consistent understanding, effective implementation and ensuring victim‑survivors are supported across every point of the legal system.”