Minister for Women Katy Gallagher pledges financial abuse crackdown on superannuation, tax and social security systems

Labor will push to end financial abuse perpetrated by domestic and family violence abusers by reforming loopholes in the tax, social security and superannuation systems. If re-elected, Labor promised to introduce new laws which would stop perpetrators from accessing a victim’s superannuation, plus reforms to the tax and corporate systems to ensure victim survivors are not held responsible for debts which were created in their name. Abusers would also be held liable for any social security debts which were incurred through coercion or financial abuse. Minister for Women Katy Gallagher announced the policy commitments at a Melbourne event held at the QV Women’s Centre highlighting “Labor’s commitment to women”. “We will take action to legislate practical changes in the superannuation, tax and social security systems so they cannot be weaponised by perpetrators,” she told the event which was hosted by progressive think tank Per Capita and the Chifley Research Centre on Tuesday. “We will look at how we can stop abusers receiving their victim’s superannuation – because there is no world where we believe that perpetrators of violence should benefit from the death of someone they themselves have abused.” Labor will also commit an extra $8.6m funding for the Innovative Perpetrator Responses Fund to boost electronic monitoring and intensive behaviour change programs which are delivered by state and territory governments. “This announcement stems directly from the national cabinet discussion to establish new, world first policing approaches to stop deaths from domestic violence,” she said. “It also complements the work we have already started such as pilots using focused deterrence, as well as domestic violence threat assessment centres as two new ways of identifying and dealing with perpetrators that pose the highest risk,” she said. “We recognise that there is still much to do, and Labor remains fiercely determined to meet the commitment and promise of the National Plan to end violence against women and children in a generation.” The announcement comes as Peter Dutton on Monday committed to announcing further domestic violence initiatives. “The whole area of protecting women and children is incredibly important to me,” the Opposition Leader said. “What we know out of the research is that an estimated 37 per cent of women, aged 16 and over experience, sexual assault when they were a child.” “That is a horrific statistic.” The pledge follows latest Newspoll results which showed the Coalition failing to appeal to female voters. The polling, conducted exclusively for The Australian, found the Opposition trailing Labor 33 to 35 per cent on the female vote, with support for the Coalition dropping five points since March 26 – just two days before Anthony Albanese called the May 3 election. Senator Gallagher’s speech also highlighted what she said was the “contrast” between Labor and the Coalition on issues related to “women and gender equality,” saying it “really couldn’t be more stark”. In her attack, she highlighted the Coalition’s opposition to Labor’s cost-of-living and pledge to give most households access to three days of subsidised childcare, and said the Opposition Leader had yet to announce policies to reduce domestic violence. “He talks a big game about protecting women and children, but has never explained how he’d actually do this, or demonstrated any understanding of the complex factors that drive violence against women,” she said.