Editorial: Coercive control laws must cover cults

Given the similarities between this cult and some domestic violence relationships, it is critical that the state government urgently looks to broaden coercive control legislation, writes the editor.

Queensland made history this year when it introduced laws that allowed coercive control to be considered a stand-alone criminal offence in domestic violence relationships.

It was a significant change – made by then attorney-general Shannon Fentiman – following the horrific murder of Hannah Clarke and her three children at the hands of her former partner.

Hannah had suffered years of abuse before she was killed. She was bullied and tormented by her estranged husband who controlled every aspect of her life. He told her what she could wear, who she could talk to and when she could work.

They are controls not unlike what The Courier-Mail and The Sunday Mail have this week exposed in our three-month investigation into cults and specifically the Anglican Catholic Mission Community which is operating in North Queensland.

About 30 people are living in a compound near Herberton in the Atherton Tableland being subjected to strict rules that govern when and what they eat, how much they exercise and when they pray.

They are told to hand over all their assets when they join the group, and any money they make goes into the bank accounts of the rulers of the ACMC. They are cut off from their family and friends and limited in the jobs they are allowed to do.

According to court documents, those who don’t obey are punished.

Given the similarities between this cult and some domestic violence relationships, it is critical that the state government urgently looks to broaden coercive control legislation to include a wider range of relationships – other than those between people in domestic partnerships – including cults.

Former Queensland Law Society president Bill Potts is advocating for the laws to be changed to include cults, arguing they have all the hallmarks of coercive control.

“Cults are exactly the same as domestic violence relationships,” he says in the exclusive documentary you can watch on our website.

“You are isolated often from society, from your friends, from your family members. There’s a very real argument that coercive control is so insidious, it’s so dangerous and is so predatory that it ought to be applied to cults.”

Madeline Hardess, who escaped from the ACMC, agrees, saying coercive control laws did not go far enough. She urged the government to act.

Within days Queensland will have a new premier, a new cabinet and possibly a new attorney-general.

There is no better time than now for a new-look government to act and make significant reforms.

Making this change would not only improve the lives of vulnerable people living in these cults, but it would also shine a necessary light on these secretive and controlling organisations.

WIEAMBILLA LESSONS CANNOT BE IGNORED

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll’s admission the serving of a warrant for Nathaniel Train would have played out very differently today shows lessons have been learned from the Wieambilla tragedy. This is good.

But it is important the police service continues to take on the lessons from that tragic day – particularly any recommendations out of an upcoming inquest into the horror massacre.

Our police heroes must be protected. It was on this day one year ago that two young officers died after unwittingly walking into a deadly ambush.

Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold – along with neighbour Alan Dare – were slain by Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train after police went to the property to serve a warrant on Nathaniel. The triple murder rightly shocked the nation.

Ms Carroll points out that on the intelligence that existed at the time, they felt comfortable. But she now questions whether the officers had all the necessary available information relating to the family from across the nation.

There will no doubt be recommendations out of the inquest into the deaths of constables McCrow and Arnold, and Mr Dare.

There would have to be a compelling reason for those recommendations – whatever they may be – to not be adopted.

Queensland police must be applauded for leaving no stone unturned in the case, even working with the FBI in the arrest of Donald Day – who communicated with Gareth and Stacey Train online – in the US state of Arizona last week.

But this important work is a long way from being done, and may even enter its most important phase during and after the inquest.

The families of the victims – and all Queenslanders – will expect all government departments associated with the case to keep listening, and be willing to change processes so something like this tragedy never happens again.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here