Law on coercive control
Part of the Crime topic
Understand the law on coercive control in Queensland.
In short
These laws and rules apply to coercive control in Queensland.
Use these rules to understand:
- coercive control and when it’s considered a criminal offence
- legal consequences of engaging in coercive control
- how these laws protect victim-survivors of domestic and family violence.
Coercive control is a criminal offence in Queensland under the Criminal Law (Coercive Control and Affirmative Consent) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024. Engaging in coercive control can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment.
You must
To comply with the law in Queensland you must:
- Report concerns about coercive control to police.
- Comply with protection (domestic violence) orders and police protection notices.
- Treat a current or former intimate partners, family members or carers with respect.
You cannot
To comply with the law in Queensland you cannot:
- Intimidate, abuse or harm a victim-survivor named in a protection (domestic violence) order or police protection notice on behalf of a respondent (the person using violence).
- Use abusive behaviours or language to control a current or former intimate partners, family members or carers.
- Repeat conduct with the intent to control or coerce another person.
- Hire third parties, such as private investigators, to locate or monitor a victim-survivor named in a protection (domestic violence) order or police protection notice.