QLDIn ForceAct
Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012
sec.12Meaning of economic abuse
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### sec.12 Meaning of economic abuse
Economic abuse means behaviour, or a pattern of behaviour, by a person (the first person ) that is coercive, deceptive or unreasonably controls another person (the second person ), without the second person’s consent—
in a way that denies the second person the economic or financial autonomy the second person would have had but for that behaviour; or
by withholding or threatening to withhold the financial support necessary for meeting the reasonable living expenses of the second person or a child, if the second person or the child is entirely or predominantly dependent on the first person for financial support to meet those living expenses.
coercing a person to relinquish control over assets and income
removing or keeping a person’s property without the person’s consent, or threatening to do so
disposing of property owned by a person, or owned jointly with a person, against the person’s wishes and without lawful excuse
without lawful excuse, preventing a person from having access to joint financial assets for the purposes of meeting normal household expenses
preventing a person from seeking or keeping employment
coercing a person to claim social security payments
coercing a person to sign a power of attorney that would enable the person’s finances to be managed by another person
coercing a person to sign a contract for the purchase of goods or services
coercing a person to sign a contract for the provision of finance, a loan or credit
coercing a person to sign a contract of guarantee
coercing a person to sign any legal document for the establishment or operation of a business
s 12 amd 2023 No. 1 s 33
- (a) in a way that denies the second person the economic or financial autonomy the second person would have had but for that behaviour; or
- (b) by withholding or threatening to withhold the financial support necessary for meeting the reasonable living expenses of the second person or a child, if the second person or the child is entirely or predominantly dependent on the first person for financial support to meet those living expenses.
- • coercing a person to relinquish control over assets and income
- • removing or keeping a person’s property without the person’s consent, or threatening to do so
- • disposing of property owned by a person, or owned jointly with a person, against the person’s wishes and without lawful excuse
- • without lawful excuse, preventing a person from having access to joint financial assets for the purposes of meeting normal household expenses
- • preventing a person from seeking or keeping employment
- • coercing a person to claim social security payments
- • coercing a person to sign a power of attorney that would enable the person’s finances to be managed by another person
- • coercing a person to sign a contract for the purchase of goods or services
- • coercing a person to sign a contract for the provision of finance, a loan or credit
- • coercing a person to sign a contract of guarantee
- • coercing a person to sign any legal document for the establishment or operation of a business