8Economic abuse

8 Economic abuse

A person must not, with intent to unreasonably control or intimidate his or her spouse or partner or cause his or her spouse or partner mental harm, apprehension or fear, pursue a course of conduct made up of one or more of the following actions:

(a) coercing his or her spouse or partner to relinquish control over assets or income;

(b) disposing of property owned –

(i) jointly by the person and his or her spouse or partner; or

(ii) by his or her spouse or partner; or

(iii) by an affected child –

without the consent of the spouse or partner or affected child;

(c) preventing his or her spouse or partner from participating in decisions over household expenditure or the disposition of joint property;

(d) preventing his or her spouse or partner from accessing joint financial assets for the purposes of meeting normal household expenses;

(e) withholding, or threatening to withhold, the financial support reasonably necessary for the maintenance of his or her spouse or partner or an affected child.

Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 40 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.