❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Attorney General on the delay in introducing coercive control measures in WA, while the Attorney General cites a need for a national approach and ongoing review.
AnsweredQoN 665Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FAMILY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE — COERCIVE
CONTROL
665. Ms L. METTAM to the Attorney General:
I refer to the family and domestic
violence coercive control measures introduced in other states to tackle family
and domestic violence incidents.
(1) Why is Western
Australia lagging behind other jurisdictions on these important measures, which
the Western Australian Labor government has talked about for more than two
years?
(2) When will the government
introduce these measures so victims and the community can have clarity?
CONTROL
665. Ms L. METTAM to the Attorney General:
I refer to the family and domestic
violence coercive control measures introduced in other states to tackle family
and domestic violence incidents.
(1) Why is Western
Australia lagging behind other jurisdictions on these important measures, which
the Western Australian Labor government has talked about for more than two
years?
(2) When will the government
introduce these measures so victims and the community can have clarity?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Queensland and New South Wales have introduced
some legislation. In New South Wales, it has been introduced and not
proclaimed. In Queensland, it is a little bit more problematic. The Standing
Council of Attorneys-General has received a report on this and will consider it
on Friday. We want to develop a national approach to the problem of coercive
control, and, as far as possible, harmonise the laws across our nation.
Also,
the Commissioner for Victims of Crime in Western Australia has prepared a report
for the government of Western Australia on this subject, which will
certainly be going to cabinet for its consideration for responses—this
will be after SCAG—in the near future. We will keep the member updated.
Coercive control, of course, is not like
domestic violence. It is not like an incident where someone gets punched and responders come around and see someone with a black eye. It can be a pattern of
behaviour, often nuanced behaviour like being cruel to a pet. A whole lot of
things can cause a person to be under coercive control. We are coming to grips with all these matters. In Queensland, the
legislation introduced is to make coercive control part of the family
violence definition. That is a step towards making it a matter that can be the
subject of a restraining order. We are looking at those subjects at the moment.
I will be discussing them on Friday
with all Attorneys General. The cabinet will consider those matters subsequent
to that and after we have considered the report of Ms Kati Kraszlan, the
Commissioner for Victims of Crime.
some legislation. In New South Wales, it has been introduced and not
proclaimed. In Queensland, it is a little bit more problematic. The Standing
Council of Attorneys-General has received a report on this and will consider it
on Friday. We want to develop a national approach to the problem of coercive
control, and, as far as possible, harmonise the laws across our nation.
Also,
the Commissioner for Victims of Crime in Western Australia has prepared a report
for the government of Western Australia on this subject, which will
certainly be going to cabinet for its consideration for responses—this
will be after SCAG—in the near future. We will keep the member updated.
Coercive control, of course, is not like
domestic violence. It is not like an incident where someone gets punched and responders come around and see someone with a black eye. It can be a pattern of
behaviour, often nuanced behaviour like being cruel to a pet. A whole lot of
things can cause a person to be under coercive control. We are coming to grips with all these matters. In Queensland, the
legislation introduced is to make coercive control part of the family
violence definition. That is a step towards making it a matter that can be the
subject of a restraining order. We are looking at those subjects at the moment.
I will be discussing them on Friday
with all Attorneys General. The cabinet will consider those matters subsequent
to that and after we have considered the report of Ms Kati Kraszlan, the
Commissioner for Victims of Crime.
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