The Contributions of First Nations Voices to the Australian Public Debate over the Criminalisation of Coercive Control

Abstract

Abstract In Australia, there has been significant public debate over the criminalisation of coercive control and the impact on First Nations women and communities. This debate has included allegations of ‘carceral feminists’ using coercive control to advance a punitive agenda that harms First Nations communities. This article drew on the contributions to the public debate on coercive control by First Nations voices to amplify the views of First Nations women and organisations. The findings of the article identified limited and qualified support for criminalisation by First Nations contributors, with the majority of voices opposed to criminalisation, although both First Nations advocates and critics of criminalisation endorsed the need for alternatives to criminalisation. The article concludes that there is significant work to be done by government and non-indigenous organisations to establish criminal justice and child protection systems trusted by First Nations women and communities.