Member for Waterford, Minister for Women, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman has come out in support of the State Government’s announcement regarding coercive control in Queensland.
Action against coercive control in Queensland is a step closer following today’s announcement by the State Government of an independent taskforce to examine the issue, with former Court of Appeal judge the Hon Margaret McMurdo AC at the chair.
Ms Fentiman said she supported the taskforce.
“It’s one of my top priorities,” she said.
“As we reflect one year on from the tragic deaths of Hannah Clarke and her three children, we know that legislating against coercive control will gear the system towards intervening earlier to better protect victims.
“Coercive control is a form of domestic and family violence.
“We need legislation to better protect victims.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the taskforce would recommend how best to legislate against coercive control as a form of domestic and family violence.
“Legislating against coercive control was a commitment we took to the election late last year,” the Premier said.
“The establishment of the taskforce is a significant step towards meeting this commitment.”
Ms Fentiman said the State Government had committed to consulting extensively on the matter.
“We will consult with a wide range of survivors, domestic and sexual violence service providers, legal and domestic violence experts and the community,” she said.
“That includes Hannah Clarke’s parents Lloyd and Sue, in the development of a new approach to coercive control.
“It needs to be considered from all perspectives to ensure we get it right.
“We know coercive control is a significant risk factor for escalating violence and intimate partner homicide.
“It is a strategic form of ongoing oppression used by perpetrators to instil fear, employing tactics like isolating women from their friends and family, and invasive surveillance.
“Addressing coercive control is therefore a challenging issue requiring a comprehensive approach.”
This approach includes a focus on training first responders, and domestic and family violence case workers to recognise and respond to coercive control, as well as developing a community awareness campaign.
With the Hon Margaret McMurdo leading the taskforce, Ms Fentiman said she was confident the Government would deliver strong, robust, and carefully considered new laws.
On 24 October 2019, the Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that all 140 of the recommendations in the landmark report Not Now, Not Ever: Putting an End to Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland have been implemented.
“While significant progress has been made there is still more that the Queensland Government wants to do to eliminate domestic and family violence from our community,” Ms Fentiman said.
“Every Queenslander has a role to play in preventing all forms of domestic and family violence.”
