Victorian Inquiry Recommends Outlawing Coercive Control in Cults

The committee examined how various fringe groups operate within Victoria, focusing on the tactics they use to attract and retain members. The investigation found that the existing legal framework lacks specific measures to address the systemic, psychological pressure and financial exploitation often exerted by collective entities on their followers.

To address this gap, the inquiry recommended pioneering legislative changes to criminalise group coercive control. This concept adapts legal frameworks originally designed for domestic violence, extending them to collective and organisational settings.

While the recommendation marks a significant step, the practical details of how the laws would operate remain unconfirmed. The underlying reports do not outline what specific penalties would apply to individuals or organisations found guilty of group coercive control. Additionally, it remains unclear how draft legislation might define a 'fringe group' to prevent criminalising mainstream communities or religious bodies.

The Victorian government has not yet issued a formal response to the inquiry, and it is not currently known when the state cabinet will decide whether to adopt the recommendations.

Observers will now watch to see how the Victorian government responds to the committee's findings and whether it commits to drafting the recommended legislative changes.