New laws to criminalise coercive control in Queensland

Long awaited domestic violence laws, prompted by the brutal murders of Hannah Clarke and her three children, have been introduced to Queensland parliament.

Hannah Clarke with her children Laianah, left, Aaliyah and Trey.

Long-awaited domestic violence laws, prompted by the brutal murders of Hannah Clarke and her three children, have been introduced to the Queensland parliament.

The 31-year-old Brisbane mother and her children – Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey – were doused in petrol and set alight by her estranged husband in February 2020.

Their horrific slayings triggered a national push to outlaw coercive control, a pattern of abuse identified as a “red flag for murder” that can include controlling a victim’s money, appearance, movement and contact with family.

New laws, introduced by Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, will make coercive control a stand-alone offence carrying a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

Coercive control laws were passed in NSW last year, which will take effect from July 2024, with a maximum penalty of seven years. South Australia has committed to similar laws.

Draft Queensland legislation also overhauls sexual consent laws, requiring consent to be conveyed by words or actions rather than assumed.

Hannah’s parents, Sue and Lloyd Clark, watched on from the gallery as Ms Fentiman introduced laws on Wednesday, alongside the family of domestic violence murder victim Allison Baden-Clay. 

Sue Clark said coercive control could be hard to detect. “When (Hannah) first started going out with him, he got her to shut her Facebook page down,” she said. “He didn’t like her wearing pink, she couldn’t walk off the beach in her bikini. Then slowly over time, more and more things came.

“One thing on its own can be explained away but once you start to look at all these things and put them together, that is when it becomes a pattern.”

Co-chair of the state’s DV prevention council Vanessa Fowler said coercive control was not part of our language when her sister Allison was murdered by her husband in 2012.

“I believe Allison didn’t ­realise what she was going through and we only realised after the trial,” she said. “In our language, it was either physical or verbal abuse – we didn’t see black eyes or broken bones. The community is now aware of coercive control as a pattern of behaviour that occurs over time.”

Ms Fentiman said education campaigns would run so police, judges and the community could recognise the signs of coercive control.

If you need help, call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.