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Lawyer urges public education campaign on coercive control laws
With coercive control now established as a stand-alone criminal offence in Queensland, a Queensland-based law firm principal calls on the government to launch a public education campaign to raise awareness of the new measures.
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As of 26 May, the Queensland government has criminalised coercive control following the passage of the legislation a year earlier.
Under the Criminal Law (Coercive Control and Affirmative Consent) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024, coercive control is now recognised as a stand-alone criminal offence, carrying a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.
Within the first week since the new laws came into effect, one man has been charged, and police are currently investigating additional complaints.
The criminalisation of coercive control was prompted following the tragic death of Hannah Clarke and her three children at the hands of her ex-partner in 2020.
Dan Creevey, principal of Queensland-based law firm Creevey Horrell, welcomed the move, noting that Queensland is now one of the few states in Australia to have enacted legislation criminalising coercive control.
While the implementation of the legislation is a significant step, Creevey, along with the Steps 4 Hannah Foundation, co-founded by Hannah Clarke’s parents, has called for a public education campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of coercive control and how to recognise its warning signs.
“Like the Clarkes, I suspect most people wouldn’t know what coercive control means or what behaviours are red flags,” he said.
“If the government funded an education campaign throughout the community, it would increase awareness and give these laws more clout.”
With the laws now in force, Creevey emphasised that “it’s crucial for individuals, professionals, and the community to learn more about coercive control to identify it, understand its impact, and respond effectively to it”.
Although the previous state government had launched public awareness campaigns, Creevey stressed that the current government should build on those efforts following the new legislation.
“The previous Labor state government last year launched two community campaigns to raise awareness of domestic and family violence and coercive control, and sexual consent,” he said.
“We would support more government advertising to follow this up now that the laws are in place. It would certainly give them some greater impetus.”
Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in New South Wales, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
You can email Jerome at: