The West Australian government has “no intention” of expanding coercive control laws to apply to harmful religious cults.

In a letter to the Rationalist Society of Australia this week, the state’s attorney-general, John Quigley (pictured), said the Cook government’s focus was on criminalising coercive control within the context of family and domestic violence.

Meanwhile, the South Australia government has indicated it may consider coercive control measures in religious cults in the future.

The responses have followed the RSA’s advocacy to all state and territory government attorneys-general on the issue late last year.

In December, RSA Executive Director Si Gladman called on states and territories to address coercive control in cults and high-demand religious groups.

He pointed to copious amounts of evidence – reported in the mainstream media – highlighting the coercive, harmful and abusive practices within cult groups, and the devastating impacts that these had on individuals’ lives.

In reply to the RSA (see below), Mr Quigley said a report into legislating for coercive control in Western Australia had highlighted a need to undertake a phased approach to criminalisation. 

“The focus of the current work is on coercive control within the context of family and domestic violence,” he said.

“There is no intention to widen this scope to consider the criminalisation of coercive control in the context of religious organisations or cults.”

In January, the South Australian attorney-general, Kyam Maher, told the RSA that a current bill before the state parliament addressed coercive controlling behaviour within intimate partner relationships.

He said a future review of the new laws – with reviews mandated after the third anniversary of commencement – could consider broadening its application.

“The Government acknowledges that coercive control occurs in other kinds of relationships. Coercive control can occur in any context in which one person seeks to have power and control over another person or persons, including in group settings, such as religious groups,” said Mr Maher.

“The Bill’s application to intimate partner relationships is not intended to diminish or downplay the harm that can be caused by coercive control in other contexts. The Bill focuses on intimate partner relationships in recognition of the link between coercive control and intimate partner homicide.”

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Si Gladman is Executive Director at the Rationalist Society of Australia. You can contact him at sigladman@rationalist.com.au.

Letter from Mr Quigley, 4 February 2025

Dear Mr Gladman

Addressing Coercive Control in Religious Cults

Thank you for your correspondence of the 18 December 2024 regarding the issue of coercive control in religious cults. As you note in your correspondence coercive behaviours are complex and can operate in a variety of environments.

Western Australia is currently considering criminalising coercive control. The report Legislative Responses to Coercive Control in Western Australia provided the government with recommendations on how to address this behaviour and the need to undertake a phased approach to criminalisation. The focus of the current work is on coercive control within the context of family and domestic violence.

There is no intention to widen this scope to consider the criminalisation of coercive control in the context of religious organisations or cults.

Yours sincerely

Hon. John Quigley MLA

ATTORNEY GENERAL; MINISTER FOR ELECTORAL AFFAIRS

Letter from Mr Maher, 21 January 2025

Dear Mr Gladman

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Coercive control in reliqious cults

On 29 August 2024 the Criminal Law Consolidation (Coercive Control) Amendment Bill 2024 (the Bill) was introduced to the South Australian Parliament. The Bill will create a new offence of coercive controlling behaviour within intimate partner relationships.

The Government acknowledges that coercive control occurs in other kinds of relationships. Coercive control can occur in any context in which one person seeks to have power and control over another person or persons, including in group settings, such as religious groups.

The Bill’s application to intimate partner relationships is not intended to diminish or downplay the harm that can be caused by coercive control in other contexts. The Bill focuses on intimate partner relationships in recognition of the link between coercive control and intimate partner homicide. This Bill will apply to coercive control in intimate partner relationships because the Government wants to ensure that enforcement resources are focussed on this extremely high-risk area.

The Bill mandates that a review of the offence must take place after the third but before the fourth anniversary of commencement. Whilst it will be a matter to be determined at the time the review is established, a review process could include consideration of whether the offence should have broader application in the future.

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Yours sincerely

Hon Kyam Maher MLC

Attorney-General