House debates

Thursday, 18 February 2021

Resolutions of the Senate

Family and Domestic Violence; Consideration of Senate Message

9:43 am

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

I have received the following message from the Senate transmitting a resolution agreed to by the Senate relating to violence against women:

That the Senate—

(1) notes that:

(a) 19 February 2021 marks one year since the murder of Hannah Clarke and her three children;

(b) since that date a further 52 women have been killed by violence in Australia; and

(c) coercive control and persistent emotional or psychological abuse is abuse in its own right, and a strong indicator of future physical violence;

(2) further notes that:

(a) Tasmania has had laws criminalising emotional and financial abuse and coercive control since 2004;

(b) Western Australia recently introduced a new offence of persistent family violence, recognising patterns of emotional and psychological abuse;

(c) New South Wales is currently consulting on draft laws to criminalise coercive control; and

(d) Queensland and the Northern Territory have announced plans to criminalise coercive control; and

(3) calls on the Government to:

(a) recognise the harm caused by persistent controlling behaviour; and

(b) coordinate a national discussion regarding criminalising coercive control and related implementation support.

The Senate requests the concurrence of the House of Representatives in this resolution.

Ordered that the message be considered immediately.

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