Crisis payments processed quicker for prisoners than domestic violence victims

New data reveals former prisoners are faring better fro crisis payments than women and men escaping domestic violence under the Albanese government.

Ex-criminals received crisis support payments almost three times as fast as victims escaping domestic violence in the last year, new government data has revealed.

The analysis of wait times for one-off tax free crisis payments – which are available to Australians under a range of different circumstances causing financial stress – reveals former prisoners are faring better than women and men escaping domestic violence under the Albanese government.

The government maintains wait times have improved in recent months for those struggling with domestic violence, with those cases also more complex to sort due to the need to contact third parties such as medical professionals and employers.

In the last financial year, former prisoners received one-off crisis support payments within Services Australia’s target band of two days 96.4 per cent of the time.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

But victims of domestic violence who left their homes received their crisis payments on time in just 34.4 per cent of cases.

The worst outcomes were for victims who remained in the home, who received their support payment within the two-day target in just 25.3 per cent of claims, even lower than alleged attackers who got the cash on time in 32.9 per cent of instances.

The huge imbalance comes as Government Services Minister Bill Shorten leaves parliament eight days earlier than planned, with the veteran MP and former Labor leader to be replaced by Finance Minister Katy Gallagher.

Deputy Opposition leader and Coalition spokeswoman for women, Sussan Ley, said it was up to Ms Gallagher to address the lag in domestic violence payments.

“When it comes to protecting women from domestic violence, minutes matter greatly and the fact Bill Shorten presided over this blow-out in the processing of a critical crisis payment is unforgivable,” she said.

“Katy Gallagher must immediately commit to reversing this failure, Australian women deserve better than this.”

Services Australia – which received a 3000-staff hiring boon a year ago – had been mismanaged by Labor, Coalition government services spokesman Paul Fletcher claimed.

“Despite Services Australia receiving a massive staffing boost, Labor has failed to deliver the essential services Australians rely on,” Mr Fletcher said.

Bill Shorten holds a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

A spokeswoman for Mr Shorten disagreed with the figures and said times had markedly improved since the 2023-2024 financial year, saying the processing time for all crisis payments had fallen to an average of one day between January and September 2024 – down from five days between January and September.

She said comparing crisis payments between people experiencing family and domestic violence and those being released from prison was “wrong because it’s comparing different datasets and personal circumstances”.

“As soon as a person fleeing domestic violence, or their support network, contacts Services Australia, staff act immediately to ensure they are paid as quickly as possible,” she said.

While Services Australia made all efforts to contact customers via phone when additional information was needed to green-light a claim, processing family and domestic violence claims is “complex” and required contact from social workers and third parties such as employers and medical professionals.

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