Male victim-survivor views on the criminalisation of coercive control in Australia

Abstract

This article examines how men who identify as having experienced coercive control view proposals to create a stand-alone criminal offence in Australia. Drawing on 28 in-depth interviews, the analysis explores perceived benefits, risks and likely impacts of criminalisation. Most participants supported an offence in principle, while raising concerns about definitional clarity, proving patterns of non-physical abuse and how an offence would operate across courts and services. The study emphasises that any legislative change should be paired with system-level improvements to ensure safety, accountability and effective responses.