Loved ones’ struggle for coercive control change only starting

Hannah Clarke was told what to wear, who to speak to, was bullied and manipulated - but like many other victims she did not consider herself a victim of domestic violence. The announcement of reforms is just the start of changing that.

Hannah Clarke was told what to wear, who to speak to, was belittled, bullied, manipulated and controlled – but did not consider herself a victim of domestic violence.

Allison Baden-Clay was spied on, insulted and isolated from her family by a husband who stole her self-confidence and then her life.

Hannah Clarke

Both of these murdered women knew nothing of ­coercive control – and did not consider themselves victims of domestic violence.

But both of their families have ensured coercive control will soon be a crime.

Tuesday’s pledge from the state government to criminalise coercive control by 2023 was a victory for the families who put aside their grief to tirelessly campaign for change.

Two years after Hannah and her children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, were murdered by her evil estranged husband, an emotional Sue and Lloyd Clarke said they would not rest until the laws became a reality.

“This is … why we formed Small Steps 4 Hannah,” an emotional Lloyd Clarke said.

“To give our four angels a voice and make change.

“It’s a massive change and we still won’t rest until those laws are in place and we’ll be a lot happier once that’s done.”

Sue and Lloyd Clarke at Parliament House on Tuesday and inset, Hannah Clarke with her three children.

Sue Clarke said Queensland was the just first step in what she hoped would become national change.

“We’ve got Queensland to listen and they’ve listened well. And now if we can move on to other states, if we can just get this (to be) a national law, that would be fantastic,” she said.

“The police do a great job, but unfortunately there’s a few that need a bit more education and if we have the funding and education to support the police, I think they can do a better job.”

Asked whether the laws could have kept Hannah and her children alive, Sue said: “I like to think so, I really do.”

Allison Baden-Clay’s sister Vanessa Fowler, co-chair of the Domestic and Family ­Violence Council and chair of the Allison Baden-Clay Foundation, said Tuesday’s announcement was historic.

“We are here today as we represent those whose lives have been taken,” she said.

“We represent those survivors. We represent those ­victims who are going through instances of domestic and ­family abuse.

“To hear that the government is committed to criminalising coercive control, for us, is a major step forward.”

Vanessa Fowler said the changes were a major step forward. Picture: Tara Croser

MAIN POINTS

The State Government has accepted all 89 recommendations of the Hear Her Voice report of the Queensland Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce.

It will now:

* Establish a four-month independent commission of inquiry to examine widespread cultural issues within the Queensland Police Service relating to domestic and family violence issues

* Criminalise coercive control by 2023

* Consult on the creation of an independent Queensland Judicial Commission that responds to complaints about judicial officers and provides for their professional development

* Design, establish and resource a statewide network of perpetrator intervention and behaviour-change programs

* Ensure Respectful Relationships education programs in all schools and youth detention centres

* Trial ‘co-responder’ models staffed with police and specialist domestic violence workers

* Modernise and strengthen stalking laws for domestic violence victims

* Consider cross orders for DVOs together so that one order is made favouring the person most in need of protection

* Have a respondent’s criminal history provided to court in DVO applications

* Write a statutory code of conduct for private investigators to stop their use to exacerbate domestic violence

* Refer defences and excuses for murder for independent review

* Consider whether to expand the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act, which allows for a person’s continuous imprisonment, to dangerous violent offenders

* Establish a non-public disclosure register of serious domestic and family violence offenders by 2024