Illawarra domestic violence advocates are gratified that a NSW parliamentary committee has recommended the criminalisation of coercive control.
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The committee released its report on Wednesday after conducting an inquiry into this form of domestic abuse, finding current laws do not capture such behaviour and recommending that coercive control be made a criminal offence.
"We're really pleased with the outcome," Sally Stevenson, the general manager of Illawarra Women's Health Centre, said.
"The recommendation to criminalise it is something we've been advocating for some time now."
The committee said criminalisation should only come into force after "considerable education, training and consultation" with police, frontline services, and other stakeholders.
The committee found criminalising coercive control would make it easier for victims to get help, improve the enforcement and prosecution of domestic abuse, and prevent deaths.
Ms Stevenson said she was pleased to see the committee recognised that there needed to be time to ensure it was done properly.
She said this needed to include consultation with those women, especially Indigenous women and those from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, about their concerns.
There needed to be adequate protections in place, Ms Stevenson said, for victims who had been misidentified as perpetrators and had had negative experiences with the police.
She said the recommendation that criminalisation occur within this term of parliament spoke to the urgent need of such reform.
Ms Stevenson recognised the contribution of Shellharbour MP Anna Watson, who last year introduced a private member's bill seeking an offence of coercive control.
"The findings of the Joint Select Committee are forward-thinking, and should get bipartisan support," Ms Watson said.
"This isn't the sort of reform that can happen overnight, criminalising coercive control is the kind of reform that, done right, could lead to generational change in how we as a society conceptualise domestic violence.
"The government must now follow through on this recommendation."
Attorney-General and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence, Mark Speakman, said the government would carefully consider the committee's findings and recommendations.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
