Fines or Jail for Controlling a Partner Through Abuse and New Protections for Children Groomed for Sexual Offences
Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence, Coercive Control, Good Character, Risk Assessment and Other Matters) Bill 2026
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Topics
child safety coercive control court fines court sentencing criminal justice domestic violence family violence public safety sentencing sexual grooming victim protection youth justice +7 more
Introduced by: The Hon Sonya Kilkenny MP (ALP); The Hon Jaclyn Symes MLC (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
James Newbury LIB
“I rise to speak on the Justice Legislation Amendment (FamilyViolence,CoerciveControl,GoodCharacter,RiskAssessmentandOtherMatters)Bill2026.”
Georgie Crozier LIB
“I rise to speak to the Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence, Coercive Control, Good Character, Risk Assessment and Other Matters) Bill2026. Before I commence I want to acknowledge the work of my colleague and good friend Cindy McLeish, the Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, who has been workingonthisareaformany,manymonthsandintroducedaprivatemembersbill.”
Vicki Ward ALP
“In speaking in support of this bill I start by acknowledging those who have survived family violence, those who have dared to rebuild their life, their self and their identity. You are worthy of so much respect. Whatyouhavebeen throughshould notbeexperiencedbyanyone.”
Sonja Terpstra ALP
“I rise to make a contribution on the Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence, Coercive Control, Good Character, Risk AssessmentandOtherMatters)Bill2026.IwanttosetthescenebeforeIturnto whatthisbillisabout andjustremindthechamberandanyonewhomightbewatchingalongathomethatitwastheAndrews Labor government that committed to Australia’s first Royal Commission into Family Violence back in2015.”
Katherine Copsey GRN
“I rise to speak on the Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence, Coercive Control, Good Character, Risk Assessment and Other Matters)Bill 2026.Thisisasubstantialomnibusbill,anditcontainsanumberofpracticalandoverdue reforms that respond directly to advocacy from victim-survivors, community legal centres and specialistfamilyviolenceorganisations.”
Emma Kealy NAT
“I rise today to speak on the Justice Legislation Amendment (FamilyViolence,CoerciveControl,GoodCharacter,RiskAssessmentandOtherMatters)Bill2026. I have been a member of this chamber for 12 years. Over mytime I haveseen the Royal Commission intoFamilyViolence.Ihaveseentheimplementationofthefinalreportandtherecommendationsthat were arising from that royal commission.”
Tim Richardson ALP
“It is important and critical in this chamber today to rise and speak on the Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence, Coercive Control, Good Character, RiskAssessmentandOther Matters) Bill 2026. This is abillIfeellikeI couldspeakfor days on. This is a significant piece of work that has been done.”
Georgie Purcell AJP
“I too rise to speak in support of this bill before us today. It is an enormous bill with several significant and complex reforms. It is going to be a challenge to speak about each of them, but I want to cover off my views on a few of them and then speakaboutsomething veryimportantattheend. Manypeoplehavespoken about thecriminalisation ofcoercivecontrolinthispieceoflegislation.”
Ellen Sandell GRN
“So far this year 47 women in Australia have been killed by a man known to them. That is more than one woman a week so far killed by a current or former intimatepartner or a man known to them. Whyisn’tthis on thefrontpageof everysinglepaper every single day? If this was one man murdered in his home by a partner, would we treat this differently?”
Michael Galea ALP
“I am very pleased to rise to speak to this very important bill before us today – that is, the Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence, Coercive Control, Good Character, Risk Assessment and Other Matters) Bill 2026. There are a numberof thingsI wouldliketotouchon in mycontribution, thefirstof which in manyways actually dovetails with whereMs Purcell ended.”
“I rise to support the Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence, Coercive Control, Good Character, Risk Assessment and Other Matters)Bill2026.”
Renee Heath LIB
“I amjust going to start by talking about this important bill, which criminalises coercivecontrol, speaks aboutfamilyviolence and talks aboutgood character references, risk assessment and other matters. But I am going to start by saying Ms Terpstra made someprettywildlyinaccurateclaims,andonesthatIbelievearedangerous.Thetruthactuallymatters, and it matters most when wearein a crisis likewearetoday.”
Jade Benham NAT
“Gee, this has been a long time coming, but what a day. I thought I was going to be fine, but my voice is already shaking. I am incredibly grateful to not only have language around things like coercive control, gaslighting, like the member for Pascoe Vale just highlighted, andallthewordsandlanguagethatwehavefor thiskindof insidious behaviournow, but also to now have laws around them.”
Jacinta Ermacora ALP
“I am pleased to speak on this bill, the Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence, Coercive Control, Good Character, Risk Assessment and OtherMatters)Bill 2026.Iwillmakeonlysomebriefremarks.Ihavespokeninthischamberonmany occasions about the need to address family violence and sexual assault, and it does remain the single most common crime in Victoria.”
Chris Couzens ALP
“I am pleased to rise to contribute to the Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence, Coercive Control, Good Character, Risk Assessment and Other Matters) Bill 2026, and can I acknowledge the member for Mildura’s contribution. I know how difficult it is for many women, but for you in the chamber today, I acknowledge that. Women and children are dying.”
“I also rise to speak briefly on the Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence, Coercive Control, Good Character, Risk Assessment and Other Matters) Bill 2026. Fromthe outset I do note that we will not be opposing this bill. Werealisethatthere is alot morework to bedone and thatthis is ahugechange.”
Rachel Payne LCV
“I rise to speak on the Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence, Coercive Control, Good Character, Risk Assessment and Other Matters) Bill2026 on behalf of Legalise Cannabis Victoria. Family violence is an epidemic in Australia. Intimate partner violence is the leading contributor to ill health and premature death for women in Australia.”
John Berger ALP
“I rise to make a contribution on the Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence, Coercive Control, Good Character, Risk Assessment and OtherMatters)Bill2026.I would liketothanktheMinisterfor Preventionof FamilyViolenceforher important advocacy on this issue.”
Jaclyn Symes ALP
“Thank you to all of the speakers on the Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence, Coercive Control,GoodCharacter,RiskAssessmentandOtherMatters)Bill 2026.”
Ryan Batchelor ALP
“I move: Thatthebill becommitted toa committee ofthewhole later this day. Motion agreed to.”