Victims of domestic violence need us to get coercive control laws right

Organisations on the frontline of Australia’s domestic and family violence epidemic are hoping coercive control laws are done right if they are introduced in the NT.

New laws to criminalise hidden forms of domestic abuse, such as emotional and financial abuse, could soon be considered by the NT parliament. Picture: iStock / Getty Images

• Coercive control laws for the NT being looked into as part of the Family Violence Act review

Ask just about any domestic violence organisation and they’ll tell you coercive control is a factor in abusive relationships.

Yet despite how common it is, law enforcement have had mixed success in tackling the issue.

For Dawn House’s executive officer Susan Crane, Scotland represents the “gold standard” for tackling the issue.

The country slowly introduced the offence, ensuring police and frontline workers were educated on how to build enough of a case to charge a perpetrator.

Ms Crane, however, fears a rush to implement coercive control laws here will see us go down the track of ­Tasmania.

MORE NT NEWS EDITORIALS

Jab at community chemists a good move

Hospitality worker shortage a serious hitch in an otherwise booming dry season

Make a NT NBL team happen

While Tasmania is to be commended for being the first Australian jurisdiction to introduce laws on the subject, Ms Crane said charging a perpetrator with coercive control was still rare.

This was because police hadn’t been properly educated in how to handle domestic and family cases where they suspect coercive behaviour may have played a role.

While the goals of the law were noble, the implementation left many battling domestic violence disappointed.

This needs to be front of mind for Attorney-General Selena Uibo as she embarks on potentially implementing the laws in the Northern Territory.

For the sake of abuse survivors, let’s hope this is done properly.

Follow @TheNTNews