Jodie Belyea (Dunkley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today I join Minister Mulino, Minister Plibersek and Assistant Minister Kearney to announce our commitment to ensuring that superannuation delivers financial security and dignity, not outcomes that entrench harm or reward abuse by those who perpetrate domestic and family violence.

Today we are beginning public consultation on reforms to prevent perpetrators of family violence from receiving the superannuation death benefits of victims. In some cases, current laws allow this to happen, and that is simply not acceptable. Our goal is to strengthen protections for victims-survivors while maintaining fairness, legal certainty and confidence in the superannuation system. We want these reforms to be practical, balanced and informed by experts, frontline services, the superannuation sector and, most importantly, the voices of victims-survivors and their families.

This builds on yesterday's announcement. It's yet another milestone for this government, delivering a 72 per cent boost to our frontline family, domestic and sexual violence workforce. It's an additional $291 million for the next phase of the 500 Workers Initiative. This funding will ensure the sustainability and security of a critical workforce and recognises the specialist skills of the staff and organisations working for our women and men experiencing domestic and family violence.

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