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3w ago

Queensland Enforces Hannah’s Law, Criminalizing Coercive Control

The landmark legislation, named after Hannah Clarke, introduces a maximum penalty of 14 years and aims to address domestic violence with new measures now in effect.

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Coercive control is a pattern of controlling behaviour, and is often used to isolate and threaten the victim. Now, it is a criminal offence in Queensland.
A drawn image of a woman being held up by strings on a large hand as though she is a puppet.

Overview

  • Hannah’s Law, making coercive control a criminal offense, officially came into effect in Queensland on May 26, 2025.
  • The offense includes both physical and non-physical abuse, such as financial and verbal abuse, and carries a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment.
  • The Queensland government has implemented additional measures, including a trial of 150 GPS monitoring trackers for high-risk offenders and expanded police powers starting in 2026.
  • Authorities anticipate an increase in domestic violence charges as police are trained to identify patterns of abuse rather than isolated incidents.
  • Concerns persist about the strain on police resources, with the Queensland Police Union calling for over 900 additional positions to address burnout from domestic violence-related work.