Queensland campaigns to lead awareness on coercive control and sexual consent

Two powerful community awareness campaigns have been launched by the Miles Government to promote affirmative sexual consent and recognition of the patterned nature and impacts of coercive control – an underpinning dynamic of domestic and family violence.

‘Only 100% is Consent’ and ‘Patterns of Coercive Control’ seek to educate the community about new laws that will criminalise coercive control as a standalone offence, while also strengthening sexual consent laws.

The strengthened sexual consent laws will commence on 23 September 2024, with the coercive control offence commencing on 26 May 2025.

The campaigns will run across television, digital streaming services, print, commercial and community radio, search and social media channels.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, an estimated 3.8 million Australian adults reported experiencing physical and/or sexual family and domestic violence since the age of 15, while 3.6 million had experienced emotional abuse at least once by a partner since the age of 15.

Only 100% is Consent is pitched to raise awareness of what the affirmative model of consent looks like in practice, emphasising a free, voluntary, and mutual agreement when participating in sexual activity, particularly for young Queenslanders.

It highlights how affirmative consent is clear, simple and a fundamental part of healthy and positive sexual experiences, while also showing scenarios that demonstrate how people can create a safe space for their partner/s to say no or withdraw consent.

Campaign resources demonstrate healthy and positive sexual experiences while educating Queenslanders about offences - such as non-consensual condom removal or tampering, known as ‘stealthing’, which once commenced, will be explicitly recognised in law as rape.

Reform to consent laws in Queensland will support the prevention of sexual violence, clarify misunderstood sexual offences and drive change in the way offences are prosecuted and defended in the justice system – removing outdated stereotypes and myths.

Patterns of Coercive Control has been created to educate the community on the signs and seriousness of coercive control, the severe impacts it can have and available support options, while also providing information on upcoming changes to the law.

Coercive control is an ongoing pattern of abusive behaviours – not only physical violence – which hurt, isolate, frighten, or threaten another person with the intent to control or dominate them. 

The campaign highlights different abusive behaviours, like stalking, and financial, psychological or emotional abuse. It shows how the community can recognise the signs of coercive control and demonstrates how the behaviours can be subtle and escalate over time.

The campaign is supported by tailored resources, including those for diverse groups who can be disproportionately impacted by domestic, family and sexual violence and experience unique forms of abuse. It has also been informed by the Queensland Government’s Coercive control communication framework 2024–27.  

Once commenced, the criminal offence of coercive control will carry a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.

For more information about the Patterns of Coercive Control and Only 100% is Consent campaigns, visit: www.qld.gov.au/coercivecontrol and www.qld.gov.au/consent

Anyone impacted by domestic, family and sexual violence can find information, support and resources at www.qld.gov.au/needtoknow.

Quotes attributable to the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Yvette D’Ath:

“These campaigns are a crucial tool to help Queenslanders understand these issues, as well as recognise criminal behaviours and their legal implications.

“Coercive control remains the most common predicting factor for intimate partner homicide and sexual offence laws remain frequently misunderstood, with rape myths and stereotypes still influencing criminal trials and attitudes.

“Our research has shown that when it comes to affirmative consent, people have low levels of understanding and low comfort levels around how to practically seek and give consent. 

“It has also highlighted that further understanding is needed around coercive control, including how serious it is and how to recognise the signs of abuse that can be so subtle and normalised. 

“These campaigns are an important part of our work with the sector to eliminate domestic, family and sexual violence, and to bring about lasting generational change that promotes a culture of respect, equality and consent.

“This is about making sure our community is up to speed with changes to laws that acknowledge the extent of harm a victim-survivor can experience, while also providing safe guidance and education to our young adults and vulnerable Queenslanders.

“​We encourage everyone in the community to engage with these campaigns, learn more about the new laws, and take part in creating a safer, more respectful society.

“Ultimately, by raising awareness and understanding on these important issues, and holding perpetrators accountable, we can make a significant difference in the lives of many.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman:

“We know how serious coercive control is. It has serious impacts on victims and their families, and it has no place in our communities.

“Thanks to the incredible advocacy of victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, our community better understand what coercive control looks like, but there’s more to do. 

“That’s why these new awareness campaigns aim to further educate Queenslanders see the patterns of coercive control and to understand the difference between caring and controlling behaviour.

“I want to acknowledge the stakeholders, advocates, and victim-survivors of domestic violence for their continued engagement and advocacy as we work to end domestic and family violence. 

“The Miles Government remains committed to doing everything we can to keep women safe and hold perpetrators to account.”

Quotes attributable to founders of Small Steps 4 Hannah Foundation, Sue and Lloyd Clarke:

“The new resources were very welcome additions to the ongoing effort to educate Australians about the insidious nature of coercive control.

"Every single person needs to take responsibility for the safety of our community and of our fellow Australians.  

“That means speaking up when you recognise the red flags of coercive control in your friends, your family members or even in yourself.

“But first you need to know what to look for, and you need to know how to respond.  

“This campaign and the resources that go along with it will help continue the conversation and the education process."

"In the case of Hannah, Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey, we didn't know what coercive control was, let alone what to do about it.

“When we established the Small Steps 4 Hannah Foundation, one of our main goals was to lobby for better public education and awareness campaigns, to help other families who find themselves in the same position we were in.

“It's very heartening to see this four-year campaign bearing fruit and we thank the Queensland Government for this commitment today.”

Quotes attributable to founder of Teach Us Consent and Author of Consent Laid Bare', Chanel Contos:

"Coercive control and affirmative consent are crucial concepts to understand, and I am thankful the Queensland Government has made this sort of public education a priority. 

"The power of these campaigns lies in their ability to start conversations, ones that break down stigma, challenge harmful behaviours, and build a community committed to preventing violence and promoting healthy intimacy in all its forms.

"Women and allies around Australia have been in the streets asking for change to the reality of experiences for many around the country, and this is a necessary first step in combatting that."

ENDS