30 June 2025
The below statement is attributable to Angie Gehle, Senior Justice Policy and Advocacy Officer, Domestic Violence NSW
Tomorrow marks one year since coercive control was criminalised in NSW. While it remains too early to fully assess the impact of this legislative change, one thing is clear: legislation in isolation can’t guarantee safety.
Our members consistently report that the legislation has increased public awareness and improved recognition of coercive control. For many victim-survivors, it has provided language to describe years of abuse they were previously unable to articulate.
While awareness of the legislation is growing and the justice system adapts to it in practice, specialist DFV services, not courtrooms, remain the main source of safety and support for many women and children.
Coercive control is closely linked to homicide, making it essential for this legislation to be backed by the necessary investment and infrastructure that ensures safety for women and children. However, victim-survivors are now waiting up to two months for support. With no increase to core funding in over a decade, services can’t hire additional staff or expand beyond crisis response, leaving little room for early intervention and long-term recovery.
Finally, our members highlight the need for ongoing, comprehensive and up-to-date training across police, courts, and the broader justice system. Moving from incident-based responses to recognising the patterns of coercive control demands a deep, system-wide understanding.
This anniversary is a timely reminder that legislation is only one part of the solution. We must invest in a holistic, intersectional, community-wide response that ensures women and children are supported by services that understand the complexities of coercive control and promote safety, dignity, and autonomy, so all individuals can live free from violence.