Queensland Numbered Acts

DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE PROTECTION ACT 2012 No. 5 - SECT 12

Economic abuse means behaviour by a person (the first person) that is coercive, deceptive or unreasonably controls another person (the second person), without the second person's consent—

(a) in a way that denies the second person the economic or financial autonomy the second person would have had but for that behaviour; or

(b) by withholding or threatening to withhold the financial support necessary for meeting the reasonable living expenses of the second person or a child, if the second person or the child is entirely or predominantly dependent on the first person for financial support to meet those living expenses.

Examples—

coercing a person to relinquish control over assets and income

removing or keeping a person's property without the person's consent, or threatening to do so

disposing of property owned by a person, or owned jointly with a person, against the person's wishes and without lawful excuse

without lawful excuse, preventing a person from having access to joint financial assets for the purposes of meeting normal household expenses

preventing a person from seeking or keeping employment

coercing a person to claim social security payments

coercing a person to sign a power of attorney that would enable the person's finances to be managed by another person

coercing a person to sign a contract for the purchase of goods or services

coercing a person to sign a contract for the provision of finance, a loan or credit

coercing a person to sign a contract of guarantee

coercing a person to sign any legal document for the establishment or operation of a business