Opposition Leader Leanne Castley will introduce her party’s proposed coercive control laws to the Legislative Assembly. Photo: Canberra Liberals.
The Canberra Liberals have called on the community to have their say on the party’s proposed coercive control law which it will take to the Assembly later this month.
The amendment bill is the same one the party tried to introduce in March 2024 which would criminalise coercive control or “abusive conduct” against a partner or former partner.
Abusive conduct is defined as “actual or threatened conduct” against a person and lists more than two dozen ways this could occur, such as sexual and reproductive coercion, economic and verbal abuse, conduct that “shames, degrades or humiliates” a person, stalking, harassment, isolating a person from family, friends or preventing them from engaging in cultural or religious practices, and making false claims to harm a person’s reputation.
The abusive conduct would need to occur over a period of time but doesn’t have to be continuous.
A maximum seven-year penalty has been proposed, and the law would come into effect one year from the time it’s notified on the legislation register.
Opposition Leader Leanne Castley has stayed firm on her belief that action in this space is needed now.
“This is the Private Member’s Bill I introduced last year that was voted down, and is based on legislation in NSW that has been in operation for some time now,” she said.
“We have a few weeks between now and the next sitting week and I am keen to hear from as many Canberrans as possible about coercive control and this bill in particular.
“We can’t afford to delay this any longer. The victims and their families can’t afford to wait and the government seems to avoid taking any action unless it’s on their terms.”
The ACT Government provided in-principle support to criminalise coercive control back in 2021.
Despite its recent announcement that it hoped to introduce a proposed criminalisation law in mid-2026, Ms Castley wasn’t convinced anything would end up happening.
“[Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Minister Dr Marisa Paterson] talked about budget pressures, needing to wait, and things that we’ve heard for a long time now,” she said.
“[Coercive control] is the sort of thing that destroys a human being and it is happening across the ACT. It’s the sort of thing that brings a person to their knees where they can no longer fight for themselves; they have forgotten who they are.
“We need this to be criminalised so the police can pick up patterns of behaviour before a violent act occurs.”
But stakeholder organisations have said further education is needed before any laws can be enacted.
ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner Margie Rowe said training and resourcing for police was especially important, as any coercive control law would require officers to investigate patterns of behaviour rather than single incidents.
“In other jurisdictions that have criminalised coercive control there was concern, as there is here, that without adequate training and resources to investigate thoroughly there is a risk that police might misidentify the perpetrator of the coercive control,” she said.
“Perpetrators of coercive control can be very effective in using systems to their advantage, particularly the legal system.”
Ms Rowe said further consultation was particularly needed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, multicultural groups and LGBTQIA+ communities, as they experienced coercive control in particular ways.
Plus responding agencies would need more resources as the community became more aware of coercive control behaviours and more people sought support.
“Further, there needs to be a consideration of how to frame the legislation, to include family violence and not just intimate partner relationships,” she said.
“This is particularly important for older people experiencing elder abuse, which is overwhelmingly coercive. The broader definition of family violence will also capture kinship and family structures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.”
Ms Rowe pointed out the low charging and prosecution rates seen in other jurisdictions risked undermining the law’s impact as both a deterrent and accountability measure.
In NSW, 297 coercive control incidents were reported to police between July 2024 and June 2025, where 113 incidents only involved coercive control and no other recorded offences.
Of these reported incidents, nine coercive control charges were laid – five by police and four by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
As of 30 June 2025, one offence has been proven and two were withdrawn by the prosecution.
The nature of charges laid after coercive control was reported to NSW Police. Photo: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.
Ms Rowe said there were chances to learn from other jurisdictions to ensure offenders would be held accountable by Canberra’s justice system.
“If the legislation is framed correctly and used well, it will lead to appropriate criminal justice system responses, which provide vindication to victim survivors and systems accountability for perpetrators,” she said.
“Ultimately the goal is to increase safety for victim survivors and their children and families.”
The Canberra Liberals’ exposure draft legislation is available online. Submissions are open for individuals and organisations until Sunday 12 October. Feedback can be provided using the online form or by emailing CASTLEY@parliament.act.gov.au.
If you or someone you know is experiencing any kind of abuse, help is available. Visit 1800 RESPECT, call 1800 737 732, or visit ACT Government: Get help now for a list of domestic and family violence support services.
If you are in danger now, call triple zero (000).
