07/09/2025
SOUTH AUSTRALIA COERCIVE CONTROL LAWS ✅
Success: The State Government has passed legislation criminalising coercive control.
WHAT IS COERCIVE CONTROL?..
Coercive control is an under-reported type of domestic violence where an abuser seeks to control a victim’s behaviour.
It can include:
•Attempting to isolate someone from their friends and family
•Controlling their finances
•Monitoring what they say, what they wear and even what they eat or when they sleep.
CRIMINALISING COERCIVE CONTROL-
Until now, coercive control was not a standalone offence in South Australia.
The reforms will criminalise controlling behaviours within both current and former intimate partner relationships that restrict one or more of the following aspects of the victim’s life:
•Freedom of movement
•Freedom of action
•Ability to engage in social, political, religious, cultural, educational or economic activities.
•Ability to make decisions with respect to their body.
•Ability to access the justice system, basic necessities, support services or property they own.
When prosecuting the offence, authorities would need to show that a reasonable person would consider the defendant’s conduct was likely to cause physical or psychological harm, with offenders convicted of an offence facing up to 7 years in prison.
The Government will be consulting with a number of key stakeholders– including family violence support services, the courts, police and the Director of Public Prosecutions – before the laws come into effect.
https://www.agd.sa.gov.au/law-and-justice/consultation/coercive-control-in-south-australia
