The Western Australian (WA) government is inviting Western Australians to share their views on whether specific laws should be introduced to combat coercive control in relationships. According to a release on Tuesday, the WA criminal justice system already recognises and responds to coercive control in various ways, but the government will consult victim-survivors, legal and family violence specialists and members of the community on whether more targeted laws are needed. Relationships Australia defines coercive control as a form of psychological abuse that “can look different in each situation, but fundamentally describes all the ways in which one person intimidates, threatens, or pressures another to ensure they will comply with directives.” The perpetrator imposes psychological force, potentially involving significant duress, the threat of violence, or punishment if the victim doesn’t comply with their requests. This is a regime of behaviour and therefore happens repeatedly. Through intimidation and fear of retribution, the …