If you are a victim of domestic violence, you are protected by law. The Queensland Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act of 2012 define domestic Violence as:
Domestic violence means behaviour by a person (the first person) towards another person (the second person) with whom the first person is in a relevant relationship that:-
- is physically or sexually abusive; or
- is emotionally or psychologically abusive; or
- is economically abusive; or
- Is threatening; or
- is coercive; or
- In any other way controls or dominates the second person and causes the second person to fear for the second person’s safety or wellbeing or that of someone else.
Domestic Violence Behaviour
- the threat of, or follow through of personal injury or threatening a person or child with death
- coercing a person to engage in sexual activity or attempting to do so
- threat of, or follow through of damaging a person’s property
- threaten to commit suicide or self-harm to torment, bully or scare the person of whom the behaviour is focused
- the threat of, or follow through of injury or death of animals and pets that may not belong to the aggressor in order to dominate or control
- unlawfully stalking or surveillance of a person (checking SMS, internet history, social network accounts, GPS movements)
Emotional/ Psychological Abuse
- Emotional or psychological abuse means behaviour by a person towards another person that torments, intimidates, harasses or is offensive to the other person.
Economic Abuse
- Denies person one of economic (financial) independence that said person would have, but for the controlling or deceptive behaviour of person one. This includes withholding financial support that is necessary in meeting a reasonable living expenses of person one or child who are either completely or largely dependent on the second person
If you would like to know more about the ‘Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act’ CLICK HERE!