Pass the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Amendment (Coercive Control) Bill 2020, to be known as 'Preethi's Law'
Petitioner:
Ms Sally Stevenson
| Member:
Watson, Anna
| No. of Signatories:
615
| Date closed:
22/12/2020
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly,
We call upon all Members to support the amendment to pass the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Amendment (Coercive Control) Bill 2020, to be known as 'Preethi's Law'.
The Bill practically deals with coercive controlling behaviour in intimate relationships and seeks to amend the Act in a positive way.
The amendment would see coercive controlling behaviuor become an offence in NSW and be punishable under law. The proposed Bill also has an aggravated penalty attached, where children are involved and would be an offence in NSW wherever the offence occurred.
The Bill is named in honour of Pretthi Reddy who was murdered by her ex partner after a pattern of controlling behaviour. In her sister Dr Nithya Reddy's words: 'If the systematic set of behaviours aimed at dominating and controlling, which perpetrators such as my sisters ex-partner employed were to have been legislated years before, Preethi may still be here.'
We the undersigned petitioners, ask the Legislative Assembly to pass this vital, progressive and urgently needed Bill.
