APS Response to Legislative Responses to Coercive Control in Western Australia

The APS supports and congratulates the West Australian Government for recognising the importance of coercive control as a set of insidious behaviours that can be devastating to victims. Regulation is challenging to enforce though, as coercive and controlling behaviour is difficult to define and is contextual in nature. For these reasons, codification of this behaviour needs to be carefully considered. 

When considering definitions of coercive control, it is important to note that lists do not adequately capture the "process" and pattern of coercive control or those behaviours that appear insignificant or non-abusive to those outside an abusive relationship. It is for these or these reasons that threats or expectations of negative consequences are very important in the coercive controlling dynamic and the legislation must attempt to capture the impact of the controlling and threatening behaviours on the victim-survivor. In our response to Legislative Responses to Coercive Control in Western Australia – Discussion Paper, we consider:

• The importance of the definition of coercive control in articulating a pattern of violence
• Arguments in support or against the criminalisation of coercive control
• Considerations when providing evidence in the context of coercive control
• Community education and language
• The role of psychology and other considerations

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