Australian Capital Territory bill

Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2026

ACTIntroducedFull text

Jurisdiction

Australian Capital Territory

Making Date

2026-05-28

Collection

bill

Parliamentary Progress

IntroducedFirst ReadingSecond ReadingCommitteePassed HousePassed SenatePassed BothRoyal Assent

Plain English Summary

6/10 complexity

What this Bill does (mechanics first)

Creates a new criminal offence called "coercive control of a family member" in the Crimes Act (new Part 3B, especially section 72J). The offence targets an adult who engages in a "course of conduct" of family violence against a family member with the intention of coercing or controlling them (72J(1)(a)–(c)).
Sets the legal test for harm or fear: a conviction requires that a reasonable person would regard the course of conduct as likely to cause harm or a fear of harm to the family member or someone else (72J(1)(d)).
Specifies the maximum penalty: 700 penalty units, 7 years imprisonment, or both (72J(1) penalty).
Defines key terms and structure: "conduct" and "course of conduct" are defined (72I); "family member" and "harm" are to be read from the Family Violence Act 2016 and the Criminal Code dictionary respectively (72I and Dictionary inserts).
Allows a lawful-defence-type exception: subsection (1) does not apply if the course of conduct "was reasonable in all the circumstances" (72J(3)). The defendant bears an evidential burden for that matter (note to s72J refers to Criminal Code s58).
Alters prosecutorial procedure for this offence: the prosecution must describe the nature of the conduct and the time period (72J(6)(b)), but is not required to plead or prove particulars of each alleged incident as would be necessary for separate incident charges (72J(5)–(6)). A jury is not required to agree on the same specific incidents that make up the course of conduct (72J(5)(b)). The prosecution also does not have to prove that the accused intended each individual incident to be coercive — only the course of conduct overall (72J(7)).

JSON API

Have Your Say

This Bill is before Parliament. Pro members can share their view below. Comments are public and visible to anyone reading this page.

Loading comments…

Source excerpts

Direct links to excerpts of the current source text in Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2026.

retrieval-0001

Document excerpt 1

Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2026

J2025-1308 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 2026 THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY (As presented) (Minister for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence) Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2026 Contents Page 1 Name of Act 2 2 Commencement 2 3 Legislation amended 2 4 Offences against Act—application of Criminal Code etc Section 7A, note 1, new dot point 2 5 New part 3B 2 6 New part 21 5 7 Dictionary, definition of conduct 6 8 Dictionary, new definitions 6

Contents Page contents 2 Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2026 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Schedule 1 Consequential amendments 7 Part 1.1 Ombudsman Act 1989 7 Part 1.2 Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance) Act 2016 7

J2025-1308 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 2026 THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY (As presented) (Minister for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence) Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2026 A Bill for An Act to amend the Crimes Act 1900, and for other purposes The Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory enacts as follows:

Section 1 page 2 Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2026 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 1 Name of Act1 This Act is the Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Act 2026.2 2 Commencement3 (1) Sections 3 and 6 commence on the day after this Act’s notification4 day.5 Note The naming and commencement provisions automatically commence on6 the notification day (see Legislation Act, s 75 (1)).7 (2) The remaining provisions commence 2 years after this Act’s8 notification day.9 3 Legislation amended10 This Act amends the Crimes Act 1900 and the legislation mentioned11 in schedule 1.12 4 Offences against Act—application of Criminal Code etc13 Section 7A, note 1, new dot point14 insert15 • s 72J (Coercive control of family member)16 5 New part 3B17 insert18 Part 3B Coercive control19 72I Definitions—pt 3B20 In this part:21 conduct means an act or an omission to do an act.22 course of conduct includes—23 (a) conduct that is repeated or continuous or both; and24

Section 5 Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2026 page 3 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au (b) a series of incidents of conduct that do not occur in immediate1 succession or form an unbroken series.2 family member, of a person—see the Family Violence Act 2016,3 section 9.4 harm—see the Criminal Code, dictionary.5 72J Coercive control of family member6 (1) A person commits an offence if—7 (a) the person is an adult; and8 (b) the person engages in a course of conduct consisting of family9 violence against a family member of the person; and10 (c) the person intends the course of conduct to coerce or control the11 family member; and12 (d) a reasonable person would, in all the circumstances, consider the13 course of conduct likely to result in harm to, or fear of harm in,14 the family member or someone else.15 Maximum penalty: 700 penalty units, imprisonment for 7 years or16 both.17 (2) For subsection (1) (b)—18 (a) a course of conduct may consist of family violence if it consists19 of any combination of incidents of family violence; and20 (b) whether a course of conduct consisting of family violence exists21 must be assessed by considering the totality of the conduct.22 (3) Subsection (1) does not apply if the course of conduct was reasonable23 in all the circumstances.24 Note The defendant has an evidential burden in relation to the matter25 mentioned in s (3) (see Criminal Code, s 58).26

Section 5 page 4 Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2026 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au (4) For a person to be found guilty of an offence against subsection (1),1 the trier of fact must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that there2 was a course of conduct consisting of family violence.3 (5) However—4 (a) the trier of fact is not required to be satisfied of the particulars5 of any specific incident of family violence alleged to form part6 of the course of conduct of which it would have to be satisfied7 if the incident were charged as a separate offence; and8 (b) if the trier of fact is a jury—the members of the jury are not9 required to be satisfied about the same incidents of family10 violence alleged to form part of the course of conduct.11 (6) In a proceeding for an offence against subsection (1), the12 prosecution—13 (a) is not required to allege the particulars for any specific incident14 of family violence to the extent necessary if the incident were15 charged as a separate offence; but16 (b) is required to allege—17 (i) the nature and description of the conduct alleged to form18 part of the course of conduct; and19 (ii) particulars of the period of time over which the course of20 conduct took place.21 (7) In a proceeding for an offence against subsection (1), the prosecution22 is not required to prove that the person intended each incident of23 family violence to coerce or control the person’s family member.24 72K Review of provisions about coercive control25 (1) The Minister administering the Domestic Violence Agencies Act 198626 must review the operation of the amendments to this Act made by the27 Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Act 2026 as soon as28 practicable after the end of 3 years after this section commences.29

Section 6 Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2026 page 5 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au (2) The Minister must present a report of the review to the Legislative1 Assembly within 1 year after the day the review is started.2 (3) This section expires 6 years after the day it commences.3 6 New part 214 insert5 Part 21 Coercive control advisory6 committee7 433 Advisory committee8 (1) The coercive control advisory committee is established.9 (2) The function of the advisory committee is to advise the responsible10 Minister about the offence relating to coercive control mentioned in11 the Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Act 2026, section 5,12 including the implementation of the offence.13 (3) The advisory committee is made up of members appointed by the14 responsible Minister who the Minister considers have relevant skills15 and experience.16 Note For laws about appointments, see the Legislation Act, pt 19.3.17 (4) The advisory committee may establish an expert reference group to18 assist the committee in the exercise of its function.19 (5) In this section:20 responsible Minister means the Minister administering the Domestic21 Violence Agencies Act 1986.22 434 Expiry—pt 2123 This part expires 3 years after the day it commences.24

Section 7 page 6 Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2026 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 7 Dictionary, definition of conduct1 substitute2 conduct—3 (a) for part 3B (Coercive control)—see section 72I; and4 (b) for part 13 (Unfitness to plead and mental impairment)—see the5 Criminal Code, section 13.6 8 Dictionary, new definitions7 insert8 course of conduct, for part 3B (Coercive control)—see section 72I.9 family member, of a person, for part 3B (Coercive control)—see the10 Family Violence Act 2016, section 9.11 harm, for part 3B (Coercive control)—see the Criminal Code,12 dictionary.13

Consequential amendments Schedule 1 Ombudsman Act 1989 Part 1.1 Amendment [1.1] Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2026 page 7 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Schedule 1 Consequential amendments1 (see s 3)2 Part 1.1 Ombudsman Act 19893 [1.1] Section 17E (1), definition of reportable conduct, new4 paragraph (b) (iii) (BA)5 insert6 (BA) section 72J (Coercive control of family member);7 Part 1.2 Victims of Crime (Financial8 Assistance) Act 20169 [1.2] Schedule 1, division 1.2.2, new item 1A10 before item 1, insert11 1A Crimes Act 72J coercive control 12

page 8 Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2026 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au Endnotes 1 Presentation speech Presentation speech made in the Legislative Assembly on 28 May 2026. 2 Notification Notified under the Legislation Act on 2026. 3 Republications of amended laws For the latest republication of amended laws, see www.legislation.act.gov.au. © Australian Capital Territory 2026

Source text

Sourced from the ACT Legislation Register (legislation.act.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.

Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2026

J2025-1308 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au 2026 THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY (As presented) (Minister for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence) Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2026 A Bill for An Act to amend the Crimes Act 1900, and for other purposes The Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory enacts as follows:

Section 5 Crimes (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2026 page 3 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at (b) a series of incidents of conduct that do not occur in immediate1 succession or form an unbroken series.2 family member, of a person—see the Family Violence Act 2016,3 section 9.4 harm—see the Criminal Code, dictionary.5 72J Coercive control of family member6 (1) A person commits an offence if—7 (a) the person is an adult; and8 (b) the person engages in a course of conduct consisting of family9 violence against a family member of the person; and10 (c) the person intends the course of conduct to coerce or control the11 family member; and12 (d) a reasonable person would, in all the circumstances, consider the13 course of conduct likely to result in harm to, or fear of harm in,14 the family member or someone else.15 Maximum penalty: 700 penalty units, imprisonment for 7 years or16 both.17 (2) For subsection (1) (b)—18 (a) a course of conduct may consist of family violence if it consists19 of any combination of incidents of family violence; and20 (b) whether a course of conduct consisting of family violence exists21 must be assessed by considering the totality of the conduct.22 (3) Subsection (1) does not apply if the course of conduct was reasonable23 in all the circumstances.24 Note The defendant has an evidential burden in relation to the matter25 mentioned in s (3) (see Criminal Code, s 58).26