❓ WA Attorney General reports increased community awareness of coercive control following the 'Coercion Hurts Campaign'. Legislation timing remains a Cabinet decision.
AnsweredQoN 793Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the phased approach into introducing coercive control legislation in Western Australia, and I ask: (a) have any improvements in community awareness of coercive control been recorded since the launch of the “Coercion Hurts Campaign”; (b) in reference to (a), if awareness has not met targets, will there be further delays in the introduction of legislation; and (c) if yes to (b), how will this be communicated to those waiting for protection?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 December 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney General
Response time
7 days
(a)
Yes. An initial Omnibus Survey conducted in August 2024 found that 60% of Western Australians had heard of the term "coercive control". A follow-up survey in December 2024 recorded a 12% increase in awareness, indicating positive momentum in public understanding.
The campaign’s core message — “It doesn’t have to be physical. Coercive control is family and domestic violence” — has been delivered over 27.3 million times across a wide range of media channels, including catch-up TV, digital audio, online video, content partnerships, social media, and search platforms. This extensive reach demonstrates strong visibility and engagement across the WA community.
Online engagement has also grown, with the term “coercive control WA” now ranking as the top search result, reflecting increased public interest and digital footprint.
(b – c)
The timing of the introduction of legislation and specific details is a matter for Cabinet.
Yes. An initial Omnibus Survey conducted in August 2024 found that 60% of Western Australians had heard of the term "coercive control". A follow-up survey in December 2024 recorded a 12% increase in awareness, indicating positive momentum in public understanding.
The campaign’s core message — “It doesn’t have to be physical. Coercive control is family and domestic violence” — has been delivered over 27.3 million times across a wide range of media channels, including catch-up TV, digital audio, online video, content partnerships, social media, and search platforms. This extensive reach demonstrates strong visibility and engagement across the WA community.
Online engagement has also grown, with the term “coercive control WA” now ranking as the top search result, reflecting increased public interest and digital footprint.
(b – c)
The timing of the introduction of legislation and specific details is a matter for Cabinet.
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