Strengthen abuse laws

By Kirra Livingstone

NEW COERCIVE control laws introduced into State Parliament should go further by criminalising the insidious attacks on victims, according to local domestic violence protection group Speak Up Now.

The long-awaited laws aimed at curbing the scourge of domestic abuse and stamping out coercive control were unveiled by the Palaszczuk Government last week.

The laws included modernising the offence of unlawful stalking, broadening the definition of domestic and family violence and strengthening the court’s response to cross applications for protection orders.

But the legislation could go further according to Speak Up Now Maleny and Blackall Range.

“The Speak Up Now group is keen to see changes to the Criminal Code, hopefully as soon as early 2024, to make coercive control a criminal act,” spokesperson Val France said.

“This again will make it easier for action to be taken through the criminal court and stronger penalties can then apply.

“It should not just stop at these [law amendments and implementations] as there is certainly room for much stronger protections to be given to victims of domestic and family violence…”

She highlighted that not only does legislation need to change, but police training needs to be updated in line with coercive control changes too.

“In order for acts of coercive control to be dealt with in an appropriate way by the police attending reports of such abuse… there must be more training given to frontline workers such as specialist domestic violence services,” Val added.

An ongoing issue for Speak Up Now is the impact of coercive control on seniors.

Val said in response to growing concerns about this form of abuse, the group is hosting a Seniors Forum on Monday March 20 at the Maleny RSL from 9 to 11:30am.

It will allow seniors to ask questions to industry professionals in law and domestic violence support about coercive control and other concerns local elderly people may have.

The event is free and to RSVP for catering purpose, contact Val on 0419 599 042 or email speakupnowstopdomesticviolence@ gmail.com. If you are a victim of coercive control, the group recommends you reach out to 1800Respect, DV Connect (24hr for women) 1800 811 811 & (24hr for men) 1800 600 637) and for seniors to contact The Elder Abuse Helpline 1300 651 192.