Riverina NSW MPs support new crime of coercive control for domestic abuse but want consultation

However, they also want to see extensive consultation on new laws to ensure they can meet the aim of reducing domestic abuse and violence without unintended consequences.

The Joint Select Committee on Coercive Control handed down its report this week, finding that abusive and controlling behavior was a factor in the "horrific and preventable murder" of Australian women and children.

The inquiry defined coercive control as domestic abuse involving tactics like isolating a partner from family and friends, humiliation, controlling and tracking movements, and removing freedom to make decisions such as what they wear or how they spend their money.

Wagga MP Joe McGirr said he was willing to support new legislation to make coercive control a criminal offence but there was a lot of work yet to be done in drafting the new laws.

"I'm going to take the time to read the report in detail but my preliminary view is that it has made the important recommendation that the offence be introduced," he said.

"I recognise how important this issue is for the community and especially for the victims of domestic and family abuse and all those who contributed to the report.

"The government has now got the task of how they will actually legislate for the criminal offence and the report has given some recommendations in regard to that but the devil is going to be in the detail in terms of what the offence will look like."

The inquiry's report stated it was "not the role of government to intervene in the daily lives of ordinary, consensual, healthy domestic relationships" but there was a need to intervene to stop behavior that was "known to be a factor in potentially preventable domestic abuse related homicide deaths".

The committee of MPs running the inquiry visited Narrandera in April and heard from groups such as Sisters Housing Enterprises, Wagga City Council on the 'Reflect Respect' campaign, and Wagga Women's Health Centre.

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Murray Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Helen Dalton said there was definitely a need for the laws to change.

"I will take a look at the parliamentary committee report and I will be speaking to a lot of groups, particularly women's organisations around my electorate," she said.

"The challenge is really to get the balance right when this new law comes in and I have a few concerns with Labor's original bill as the definition was quite vague.

"There's also a concern around the lack of consultation and education around this bill and I have spoken to some police they say it will be very difficult to enforce this."

Labor attempted to pass a private members bill last year with the stated aim of criminalising coercive control, but it did not get enough votes to proceed through Parliament.

Cootamundra Nationals MP Steph Cooke said it was an honour to have been part on the inquiry's committee and it was a unanimous decision to support a new criminal offence for coercive control

"I worked hard to ensure the Committee were aware of the significance of this issue for rural and regional communities, and I am proud to have brought the Committee to Narrandera to ensure the experiences of regional people could be heard in person," she said.

"I want to acknowledge victim survivors, support groups and front line workers who appeared as part of this inquiry, particularly those from the broader Narrandera community.

"The Committee's unanimous view is that we should criminally recognise coercive control and for this to be done with an extensive implementation process including consultation, education, resources and lead-time, if it is to succeed."

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