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.