Prosecutors described the attack as a "continued, sustained" act of violence committed upon a woman in an extremely vulnerable position.

Police were called to the Kambah home on Sunday, following reports of a disturbance.

They allege the pair, who had been in a relationship for about a year, were arguing over their son. The boy was being looked after by a friend of the mother's.

The friend received a call from the complainant, who asked her to return the son. The friend was concerned about what was happening and refused, and said she heard the defendant calling his partner a "dirty c--t" and a "useless b---h".

The woman made a second call to her friend a short time later, and pleaded for her son to be brought back, before her partner took the phone and began abusing the friend.

Police arrived and spoke to the complainant, who told them her partner had abused her. She said that when she asked to leave, he responded:

"You're not going anywhere until you get a flogging."

The ACT Magistrates Court heard the woman was bed-ridden from a spider bite, and the man allegedly kicked her in the head and repeatedly in the back.

Police then arrested him and he appeared before Magistrate Robert Cook on Monday.

During an interview with police, the man denied assaulting his partner, but admitted to threatening her and throwing pillows at her.

Prosecutor Emilija Beljic opposed the man being released on bail, saying he was a risk of reoffending and endangering or interfering with the victim.

Ms Beljic said the defendant had threatened the woman, saying words to the effect of "if you make a statement to police, I'm going to kill you".

She said the woman was genuinely afraid that if she spoke to police, her partner would assault her.

The man's defence said there was no current protection order taken out against him, and that he was about to recommence work.

Mr Cook refused the man bail, saying he appeared to be angry and out of control, and that there was seemingly nothing the court could do to regulate his behaviour.

The case will reappear in the ACT Magistrates Court later this month.