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AAP
AAP
Politics
Maeve Bannister

Labor vows to stop abusers from weaponising tax, super

Labor vows to crack down on domestic violence abusers using financial systems as a weapon. (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)

Domestic violence perpetrators will be prevented from abusing tax and superannuation systems under changes Labor has promised if re-elected.

Violence against women has largely been a forgotten issue in the federal election campaign.

But as voters prepare to head to the polls on May 3, the first big domestic violence policy has been revealed. 

Minister for Women Katy Gallagher said a re-elected Labor government would crack down on perpetrators weaponising financial systems.

Changes would include law reform in the superannuation, tax and social security systems to stop perpetrators from weaponising them against survivors.

Minister for Women Katy Gallagher (file image)
Katy Gallagher says perpetrators of violence should not be able to access any financial benefits. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

"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," Senator Gallagher said in a speech to the QV Women's Centre on Tuesday.

"We will prevent perpetrators from using the tax system and corporate systems to create debts as a form of coercive control and ensure perpetrators are accountable for these debts if they do."

Labor would also invest more funding to stop high-risk perpetrators through electronic monitoring, she said.

No to Violence, a national organisation that works with men who use family violence and supports them to change their abusive behaviour, welcomed the focus on prevention.

Chief executive Phillip Ripper said more investment was needed to engage early with people at risk of using violence.

An electronic tracking bracelet (file image)
Labor is promising more funding to stop high-risk perpetrators through electronic monitoring. (Keana Naughton/AAP PHOTOS)

"To truly keep women safe, we need to stop violence at its source, that is, men using violence," Mr Ripper said.

"We need national systems and services to work together to identify people using violence and connect them with services to reduce the escalating impacts of their behaviour on their victims and communities."

The coalition has not yet revealed a domestic violence policy, but campaign spokesperson James Paterson said it would in the coming days.

"Domestic violence is an issue which is very close to (Opposition Leader) Peter Dutton's heart," he told ABC Radio on Tuesday. 

"This is a problem which I think we can be candid that no political party or no government of any stripe has solved, and it is going to require continued investment and focus." 

The coalition previously announced measures to crack down on date-rape drugs. 

"We're not scanning enough mail and cargo that comes into this country, and contraband like date-rape drugs and other illegal substances are coming in through the mail, and we must stop it," Senator Paterson said. 

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