The APS supports and congratulates the Northern Territory (NT) Government for its comprehensive approach to considering the broad systemic changes necessary to address coercive control. The Proposals are well considered and far reaching which we believe to be crucial to the success of the initiative.
In considering our response, we would like to reiterate the importance of cultural safety and sensitivity being at the heart of all proposed changes. The Proposals acknowledge the complexity of Aboriginal people’s (in particular women’s) experiences of domestic violence. It is essential that the initiatives and activities that are implemented are genuinely co-developed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Territorians.
In principle, whilst there may be benefits in criminalising coercive control, questions remain about the readiness of the legal system and broader social systems to do so. These considerations are very clearly articulated in The Proposals and we commend the NT Government in its realistic longer-term approach.
The skillset and expertise of our members across Australia, including in the NT, means that the APS is well placed to support the reduction of coercive control, regardless of whether or not it is criminalised. In particular, psychologists are particularly able to assist in the assessment of victim-survivors and perpetrators, providing psychological support services, training of the police and judicial personnel, as well as raising community awareness.
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