About the Taskforce

In response to the Queensland Government’s election commitment to legislate against coercive control, the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce (the Taskforce)—chaired by the Honourable Margaret McMurdo AC—was established in March 2021 to examine coercive control and review both the need for a specific offence of ‘domestic violence’ and the experience of women across the criminal justice system. Read the Terms of reference for the Taskforce.

The Taskforce undertook extensive consultation with key stakeholders across Queensland—including the judiciary, police, service providers, the legal profession, policy makers, academics and service providers. The Taskforce also met with victim-survivors and the families of victims who did not survive.

On 2 December 2021, the Taskforce released Hear her voice—Report One—Addressing coercive control and domestic and family violence in Queensland (Report One).

On 1 July 2022, the Taskforce released Hear her voice—Report Two—Women and girls’ experiences across the criminal justice system (Report Two).

The work of the Taskforce has now been completed and the government has commenced implementing the Queensland Government response to Reports One and Two.

You can access historical Taskforce reports, discussion papers and videos on the Queensland Government Publications Portal.

If you require additional information about the Queensland Government response, send an email to pmowsvp@justice.qld.gov.au.