The National Principles to address coercive control in family and domestic violence respond to growing momentum across Australia and internationally to better recognise and respond to coercive control in intimate partner and other family relationships. The National Principles have been developed and endorsed by all Australian governments.

At their core, the National Principles establish that perpetrators exert power and dominance over victim-survivors using patterns of abusive behaviours over time that create fear, and deny a victim-survivor their liberty and autonomy. The National Principles provide a compelling case for why coercive control must be stopped.

The National Principles are not prescriptive in regard to the implementation of laws, policies and initiatives to prevent and respond to coercive control across states and territories. They provide a foundation to build wider awareness of coercive control within the community, while providing flexibility to allow governments and non-government organisations to design their own tailored approaches. Approaches should be informed by, and aligned with, these National Principles.