From 26 May 2025, coercive control is officially a criminal offence in Queensland, marking a major milestone in the fight against domestic and family violence and long campaign to criminalise coercive control in Queensland. The law recognises what advocates and victim-survivors have long known: that abuse isn’t always physical. Patterns of manipulation, control, isolation, and intimidation can be just as dangerous, and often escalate into violence.
At Pullos Lawyers, we’ve seen firsthand how coercive control can play out in family law matters. Now, with this landmark legal reform in effect, it’s important to understand how these changes could impact people navigating separation, parenting disputes, or domestic violence orders (DVOs).
What Is Coercive Control — and What’s Changed?
Coercive control refers to a deliberate pattern of abusive behaviour designed to dominate another person. It can include emotional, psychological, financial, or sexual abuse, as well as tactics like stalking, surveillance, or isolating someone from their support network.
We explore more examples and signs of coercive control in our earlier article Coercive Control Is a Form of Domestic Violence. So Why Wasn’t It Illegal in Australia?
While coercive control has previously been considered under civil domestic violence legislation (usually through a DVO it is now recognised as a serious criminal offence under Queensland’s Criminal Law (Coercive Control and Affirmative Consent) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024.
Under the new law, it is an offence for an adult to engage in patterns of abusive physical and non-physical behaviour towards a current or former intimate partner, family member, or unpaid carer, with the intent to control or coerce them. Importantly, the law applies only to behaviour occurring on or after 26 May 2025 and carries a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment.
How Does This Affect Family Law in Queensland?
For families in crisis or going through separation, these reforms may reshape how abuse is identified, responded to, and addressed in legal proceedings.
1. Stronger Grounds for Domestic Violence Orders (DVOs)
While coercive control has always been a form of domestic violence under the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012, the new criminal offence brings greater clarity and weight to this type of abuse. This could strengthen a victim’s case when applying for or enforcing a DVO, especially where non-physical abuse was previously dismissed or minimised.
2. Impact on Parenting Arrangements
In family law, the court’s paramount consideration is the best interests of the child. Coercive control can have serious effects on children, whether they witness it or are exposed to the controlling dynamic. The criminalisation of coercive control may influence parenting orders, as the court will consider any risk of harm to the child and the capacity of each parent to provide a safe and supportive environment.
3. Evidence in Family Court Matters
Where a person is charged with coercive control, or where there is evidence of a pattern of abusive behaviour, this may be used in related family law proceedings. It could impact decisions around parental responsibility, relocation, and even property settlements, especially where one party has been financially or emotionally manipulated.
4. New Offence: Using Abuse on Behalf of Another
The new laws also criminalise behaviour where someone abuses or intimidates a victim on behalf of a perpetrator, for example, a friend or relative of the respondent who continues the coercive pattern. This can offer extra protection to victims trying to escape ongoing manipulation, and may affect how legal representatives approach third-party contact or extended family dynamics in family law matters.
A Long-Awaited Reform, But Challenges Remain
The criminalisation of coercive control follows years of advocacy, particularly by the family of Hannah Clarke, whose tragic death alongside her children in 2020 shocked the nation. While this reform is a vital step forward, there is still considerable work to be done.
Coercive control can be difficult to recognise, let alone prove. It’s a subtle, often invisible pattern of domination that can fly under the radar, especially in family law cases where abusers may appear cooperative or even charming in public. That’s why legal advice is so important.
How Pullos Lawyers Can Help
If you’re navigating separation or experiencing domestic abuse, whether it is physical or non-physical, you don’t have to go through it alone. At Pullos Lawyers, we are experienced in helping clients identify coercive control, protect their safety through legal avenues, and secure the best outcomes for their children and future. Our team brings not only deep legal expertise, but also genuine care and compassion to every matter we handle
Whether you’re applying for a Domestic Violence Order, seeking parenting arrangements, or worried about the impact of abuse on your family law matter, we provide tailored, practical advice to help you move forward safely.
Call us on 07 5526 3646 for a free, confidential 15-minute discussion with one of our family lawyers.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 000 for police or ambulance. For any other domestic violence concerns, there are also a number of free, 24-hour hotlines you can call via the White Ribbon Australia website.
';
