Federal Nationals MP for Cowper, Pat Conaghan, has welcomed news that The National Principles to Address Coercive Control in Family and Domestic Violence have been endorsed by The Standing Council of Attorneys-General.
Coercive control is when someone uses patterns of abusive behaviour against another person. This can include non-physical behaviours such as financial control and other behaviours that instil uncertainty and fear of reprisal in an individual. This dynamic almost always underpins family and domestic violence.
Mr Conaghan said that in his role as the Assistant Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, he has been liaising with individuals and organisations right across the country to identify the areas that most directly cater to the key goal of Prevention.
“Coercive control is regularly identified as an area of key concern due to its pervasive and often subtle nature when it comes to detection,” Mr Conaghan said.
“Implementing a shared understanding of the common features of Coercive control, improving societal understanding, co-ordinating and designing approaches across prevention and early intervention and embedding the National Principles in legal responses are all crucial first steps to eradicating this scourge from our communities.
“It should be acknowledged that the previous NSW Nationals Government passed laws in October last year in line with this, and these should be consistent throughout all states and territories. We need to work as a collective towards new generational policies to enact meaningful change.”
Mr Conaghan has encouraged media outlets and community members to read the new resources provided by the Department as part of the National Principles and share them across their networks.
“The better educated individuals and communities are about the warning signs of Family and Domestic abuse, the more likely we are to recognise them and provide appropriate early interventions and early support. This is a critical step on the path to generational change,” Mr Conaghan said.
The National Principles and supporting resources are available on the Attorney-General’s Department website.
If you or someone you know is affected by family, domestic or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au
