Motion: Attempt To Introduce Coercive Control Bill

MOTION

‘ATTEMPT TO INTRODUCE COERCIVE CONTROL BILL.’

Wednesday, 3 December 2025

Mr NEWBURY (Brighton) (9:54):

I rise in support of the Member for Eildon’s attempt this morning to introduce a Bill into this place which will criminalise coercive control.

I feel incredibly humbled to follow my colleagues, the Member for Eildon, who spoke so incredibly eloquently, and the Member for Mildura, who has spoken not only today so bravely but so many times so bravely.

Today is an opportunity for this Chamber to rise above politics and do the right thing, to do the right thing for Victoria, to do the right thing for Victorians and to say that an attempt to do something should not wait. It must not wait, and this Parliament has the opportunity now to allow this bill into the Chamber onto the Notice Paper for further consideration.

The Chamber needs to understand this. What we will vote on shortly is not the substance of the Bill but if the Bill is to be allowed into this Chamber for future debate, for future consideration, and acceptance that this Bill deserves to be considered by this Parliament. We are not asking this Chamber, we are not asking the Government, to immediately make a decision on this Bill; we are saying this issue is a priority. It must be considered by this place. Please allow us the opportunity to put this Bill on the Notice Paper for future consideration, because, respectfully, saying other jurisdictions took four years to do something is just not good enough. We have an opportunity today to do something, to allow this Bill into the chamber. Of course we will work with the government. I put out the offer, if the Government allows this onto the Notice Paper, to work with the Government, as I am sure the Member for Eildon will, in the most collaborative way, acknowledging the Government bench and working with the Government on timing that may suit them and Amendments that they may wish to consider.

Of course we will work with the Government. We will take any opportunity the government offers to work on a Bill that criminalises coercive control, because in almost every single case of an intimate partner murder coercive control preceded that violent murder. The question is not whether or not this Parliament should do something; this Parliament will do something. It must do something, and it is a matter of how long until it does. Today is an opportunity for this Parliament to do something: to allow this issue onto the Notice Paper, to accept the Opposition’s offer to work with it and understand that this Parliament should not be about politics, it should be about doing the right thing by Victorians. Accept the goodwill of the Member for Eildon in bringing this Bill forward.

I do not need to read into the Chamber record the sharp and alarming rise in terms of crime statistics, because I feel very, very confident that the Minister at the table and many Members on the other side of the Chamber not only know the statistics but I am sure they keep them up at night. I have absolute faith in the goodwill of many people in this Chamber on these issues. Therefore, I ask: why not now? Why not accept this Bill that has been introduced into the Chamber and allow it to be put onto the Notice Paper for future consideration? Why not now? How can anybody in good conscience not allow it to occur now? We heard earlier that it is important not to rush, and I understand that. That is why putting this Bill on the Notice Paper is the only good thing to do. Accepting our offer to work together, once the Bill is there, on any Amendments that may be required to ensure that this is done as soon as possible is the only good thing for this Bill at this time. I would say to the Government: please consider this matter very seriously; please consider your good conscience and support the Member for Eildon today.