Coercive Control: What You Need to Know
Coercive control has now become a criminal offence in Queensland. The new legislation was introduced on 26 May 2025 following years of advocacy from families like the Clarkes. If you’re unfamiliar with the story of Hannah Clarke, here is a brief overview of the tragic events that led to this important change.
Hannah’s Story
On 19 February 2020, Rowan Baxter, the father of Hannah’s three children and her husband, ambushed their car while Hannah was driving the children to school. He forced his way into the vehicle, doused it with fuel, and set it alight before taking his own life. The children tragically passed away in the fire, and Hannah later passed in hospital.
Coronial Inquest
A coronial inquest into the deaths of Hannah and her children was conducted in March/April 2022, with findings delivered in June 2022. Deputy State Coroner Jane Bentley found that every agency that engaged with Hannah prior to the tragedy never fully recognised the extreme risk she faced, largely because Baxter had “no prior criminal history or had been physically violent.”
His behaviour, however, was identified as “coercive control.”
Coroner Bentley made the following observations:
“Baxter made numerous appointments for counselling and with doctors. All of these actions were designed to assist him to contest the DVO and get what he wanted from the Family Court process. He did not have any real wish to obtain counselling or address his problems. He manipulated doctors and psychologists.”
“Rowan Baxter was not mentally ill. He was a master of manipulation. After Hannah left him and he realised that she had obtained support and did not intend to give in to him and his demands, he began to rally support from friends he had not seen for years and professionals he considered could advance his cause. He received funds and support from a number of friends and family members who believed his lies that Hannah was treating him badly and that he was being victimised by her.”
What is Coercive Control?
Coercive control is a term that was originally developed by Professor Evan Stark, who is a sociologist and forensic social worker, who defined it as:
“A pattern of domination that includes tactics to isolate, degrade, exploit, and control a person and frighten or hurt them physically.”
Some common examples include:
Isolating someone from friends and family
Depriving them of basic needs
Monitoring their time or whereabouts
Controlling finances or limiting access to money
Gaslighting, belittling, or constant criticism
Manipulating parenting arrangements or child support following separation
Improving the System – Recommendations from the Inquest
Following the inquest, several important recommendations were made:
A five-day, face-to-face training program for specialist domestic violence police officers as a priority
A mandatory, face-to-face domestic violence training module for all Queensland police officers
Increased government funding for men’s behaviour change programs, both in prison and the wider community
What’s Next?
Recognising and addressing coercive control is something we all have a role in. If you believe you may be experiencing this, reaching out to a confidential support service is an important first step.
If you’re worried about someone you know, or if something feels ‘off’, you can gently check in with them in a safe, private space. Express your concern, listen without judgement, and take their feelings seriously — support without pressure is key.
When you’re ready to explore your legal options, we’re here to help. You can book a complimentary, obligation-free phone consultation with us to talk through your situation and next steps.
Call (07) 5415 0248
Email info@omnialegal.com.au
Your safety and wellbeing matter.