As of 26 May 2025, Queensland has officially made coercive control a criminal offence via the Criminal Law (Coercive Control and Affirmative Consent) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 (Qld).
The commencement of the new legislation marks a significant and necessary advancement in Queensland’s efforts to combat domestic and family violence among the community.
This new law is widely known as “Hannah’s Law” and is named in honour of Hannah Clarke and her three children, whose tragic deaths in 2020 highlighted the devastating effects of non-physical, and often less obvious, abuse, on victims and their families.
Understanding the Offence of Coercive Control
Coercive control is characterised as a deliberate pattern of abusive behaviours, aimed at dominating, manipulating, and diminishing the autonomy of another person.
Unlike physical violence, coercive control often manifests through psychological and emotional tactics, making the harm less visible to outsiders, but arguably more damaging to the victim.
The offence of coercive control is set out as: –
- A person who is an adult commits an offence (a coercive control offence), if:-
- the person is in a domestic relationship with another person (the other person); and
- the person engages in a course of conduct against the other person that consists of domestic violence occurring on more than 1 occasion; and
- the person intends the course of conduct to coerce or control the other person; and
- the course of conduct would, in all the circumstances, be reasonably likely to cause the other person harm.
The maximum penalty is 14 years’ imprisonment.
The law applies to adults in domestic relationships, including past and present intimate partners, wider family relationships, and informal care relationships.
The new legislation also introduces a new offence of engaging in domestic violence or associated domestic violence to aid a respondent.
This offence makes it a crime to engage in domestic violence against an aggrieved or named person on a protection order, with the intent of aiding the Respondent to that protection order, if the offender knew or ought to have known about the parties and conditions of the protection order.
The maximum penalty for that offence is 120 penalty units or 3 years’ imprisonment.
Example of an offence
This offence may become prevalent among blended or separated families. For example: –
There is a protection order naming Person A as the Respondent and Person C as the aggrieved (the protected person), who is Person A’s ex-partner.
Person A asks their current partner, person B, to send an offensive text message to person C in breach of a no-contact condition on the protection order between person A and person C.
If person B:-
- knew or ought to have known about the existence of the protection order between person A and C;
- knew or ought to have known about the conditions on that protection order;
- person B did committed an act of domestic violence against person C at person A’s request or aid, and their behaviour was in breach of the protection order between person A and C; then
Person B would be guilty of a criminal offence.
If someone, even someone you love or trust, asks you to commit an act of domestic violence (or if you suspect it might be domestic violence) against anyone, you should tell them that you don’t feel comfortable engaging in that behaviour.
How does it look?
While coercive control is defined within the new legislation, it can take many different forms, depending on a range of factors, including:-
- the person perpetrating the coercive control;
- mental health history;
- drug and alcohol use history;
- the victim’s response to the control; or
- whether there are any children involved.
Often, coercive control includes behaviours such as isolation, financial control, surveillance, and manipulation, which all have the potential to erode a victim’s sense of self. These behaviours can also precede physical violence and be indicative of violent tendencies.
It can be hard to spot, especially when you don’t know precisely what you’re looking for.
It is crucial to keep an eye out for those around you, and speak up if you notice anything out of sorts.
How did we get here?
Hannah’s parents, Sue and Lloyd Clarke, established the ‘Small Steps 4 Hannah Foundation’ and strongly advocated for Hannah’s Law after the death of Hannah and her children.
Sue and Lloyd have continued to advocate for domestic violence victims, and Hannah’s Law has also received significant support from various other influential domestic violence and women’s rights advocates.
Their combined efforts, alongside political support, have been priceless in bringing about this legislative change.
Queensland is the second jurisdiction in Australia to criminalise coercive control. This move reflects a growing recognition among our State of the need to address the full spectrum of abusive behaviours in domestic settings, specifically those that are less obvious.
Support and Resources
Victims of coercive control and domestic violence can seek assistance through various support services:
- DVConnect: 1800 811 811
- 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
- Maroochydore Police Station: 07 5475 2444
- Sunshine Coast Community Legal Service: 07 5376 7800
- Legal Aid Maroochydore: 07 5451 6900
These services offer confidential support and can guide individuals through the available legal and protective options.
How will we move forward as a community?
The criminalisation of coercive control represents a significant step towards recognising and addressing the complexities of domestic and family violence in Queensland.
While the legislation provides a robust legal framework, ongoing education and cultural change among society are all essential to ensure that victims feel empowered to speak up and seek help.
As a community, we should all take the time to be properly educated on the insidious nature of domestic violence and coercive control.
Identifying the signs early and knowing where to seek help, can help us all reduce the prevalence of domestic violence in our society, even if you aren’t directly affected.
For more detailed information on the legislation and available support services, visit the Queensland Government’s official page on the new coercive control laws:
What if I am charged with coercive control or another criminal offence?
At Trianon Law, we specialise in family law, criminal and traffic law and domestic violence law. We are also well versed in matters where family, criminal and domestic violence law become entangled.
If the police contact you for an interview, you can exercise your right to remain silent. If you want to participate in an interview or aren’t sure whether you should participate in an interview, contact Trianon Law on 07 5444 4249.
If you are arrested, you can exercise your right to silence and ask to speak to a lawyer. You can ask the police to allow you to contact us on 07 5444 4249.
If you are served with a Notice to Appear, an Application for a Protection Order or any other document, contact Trianon Law on 07 5444 4249.
If you need assistance negotiating parenting or financial arrangements post-separation, contact Trianon Law on 07 5444 4249.
