Monday 26 May 2025 was a memorable one for so many people in their fight for greater awareness and understanding when it comes to the very real issue of coercive control.
This day saw Queensland’s coercive control laws come into force.
Domestic violence perpetrators in Queensland who repeatedly use violence or abuse to control others in relationships can now be charged with the new offence of coercive control.
The new criminal offence applies to acts of violence or abuse forming a course of conduct committed from 26 May and carries a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington said it was timely that committing coercive control became a crime in Queensland during Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month.
“The credit for these reforms is owed to the courageous families of domestic violence victims, who spoke out and called for change, despite their personal pain,” the Attorney-General said.
“The coercive control laws commencing today were legislated with bipartisan support and will help us bring perpetrators to account.
“We are determined to improve the lives of Queensland women and children who, all too frequently and tragically, experience harm at the hands of others.”
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Amanda Camm said the new coercive control laws would see a shift in focus from responding to single incidents of violence to the patterns of abusive behaviours that occur over time.
“Coercive control is almost always an underpinning dynamic of domestic and family violence,” Minister Camm said.
“It can include physical and non-physical forms of abuse and creates a climate of fear, humiliation, isolation, that over time, erodes the victim’s sense of identity, freedom and independence.
“Hannah Clarke’s parents Sue and Lloyd were standing beside me only a month ago as I reaffirmed this Government’s commitment to major domestic and family violence reforms so we can protect victims sooner.
“Coercive control and domestic and family violence have no place in our society and too many have already lost their lives as a result.”
Coercive control is when someone deliberately uses abusive behaviours against another person to control or dominate them – including physical or non-physical abuse used to hurt, humiliate, isolate, frighten or threaten another person.
The offence applies to an adult in a domestic relationship who engages in a course of domestic violence conduct against the other person in the relationship more than once, and intends that conduct to coerce or control the other person.
The conduct must be reasonably likely to cause the other person harm.
To address the significant impact of domestic violence on children, courts must also now consider additional aggravating factors, including whether a child was the victim or was exposed to the DV act.
In addition, limits on publication of information about sexual offence complainants will change, allowing for victim-survivors of sexual violence to identify themselves.
QPS Assistant Commissioner Katherine Innes, Domestic, Family Violence and Vulnerable Persons Command said the commencement of coercive control as a criminal offence in Queensland, strengthens our policing response to DFV.
“Coercive control is a serious form of abuse that can escalate to physical violence and homicide,” Assistant Commissioner Innes said.
“Coercive control is dangerous – these new laws will ensure perpetrators are held accountable before their behaviour escalates to physical violence.
“The Queensland Police Service remains committed to a zero-tolerance approach to domestic and family violence.
“We are working closely with the Queensland Government, support services, advocates, and the community to ensure victims and survivors feel heard, supported, and protected.
“We are focused on enforcing the law, supporting those affected by coercive control, and ensuring every victim-survivor has access to the support they need.”
Monday’s news was a bittersweet victory for domestic and family violence victims with Sue and Lloyd Clarke honouring the sacrifice that sparked change.
On February 19, 2020, Sue and Lloyd Clarke lost their daughter Hannah and three grandchildren in the most harrowing of circumstances.
Their story and sacrifice sparked a movement that, has led to the criminalisation of coercive control in Queensland.
Small Steps 4 Hannah Foundation (SS4H) co-founders Lloyd and Sue Clarke said they wanted to use Monday’s announcement to shine a light, not only on Hannah and their grandchildren’s lives, but also on the many lives lost to coercive control and domestic violence.
“We are so proud of how far Queensland has come in the battle against coercive control, and I just know Hannah’s smiling down on us, knowing her footprints etched into the road that awful day are the reason victims today have hope,” Mr Clarke says.
“There were so many sacrifices made along the way, not just ours and I think it’s important we acknowledge them, because they are the reason, we can now hold potential perpetrators to account.
“We weren’t alone in this fight.
Governments have acted, police have listened, and more resources are on the way.
“Now, it’s up to all of us — everyday Australians.”
The Clarkes say learning the term ‘coercive control’ changed their lives forever and they’re committed to making sure as many Australians as possible understand it, without having to lose someone they love.
“Hannah didn’t know she was in an abusive relationship, because she wasn’t being physically harmed,” Mrs Clarke said.
“If knowing about coercive control could save someone’s life, we’d be willing to share our story a thousand times over.”
“Every red flag we shared, every story we told, has laid the groundwork for the argument that coercive control is a form of family and domestic violence.
“When you see someone treating their partner, someone they are supposed to love, in a controlling or aggressive way, please remember Hannah, Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey.
“Don’t dismiss it.
“Report it.
“Because now, you can.
“Educate your families on what today means.
“It’s the only way we can spare others from the tragedy we’ve suffered.
“If people understand this law, it will save lives.”
