Super access for abuse escapees ‘under review’

A controversial initiative that would allow domestic violence victims fleeing abusers to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation is in doubt.

Superannuation Minister Jane Hume. Picture: Gary Ramage

A controversial initiative that would allow domestic violence victims fleeing abusers to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation is in doubt, with Scott Morrison saying the proposal was “under review”.

The government has begun working on measures unveiled as part of the first Women’s Economic Security Statement by then women’s minister Kelly O’Dwyer in 2018, as allegations of gendered sexual assault and harassment engulf both sides of politics.

During question time on Wednesday, the Prime Minister signalled the government would not pursue draft legislation that would allow domestic violence victims to dip into their superannuation balance, citing “strong concerns” raised by various stakeholders groups during the consultation process.

“We are listening to those concerns, Mr Speaker, and that measure is under review,” he said.

On Tuesday, Superannuation Minister Jane Hume said safeguards would be implemented in the policy to ensure victims were not exploited by their abusers who could try to access the withdrawn funds.

“The regulations that we’ve put together have integrity measures around them,” she told Sky News.

“Getting the balance right between those integrity measures, between allowing women to access their money if they need it, has been really difficult.

“I think we’ve hit the nail on the head but we want to make sure stakeholders are engaged.”

Senator Hume said the scheme would give domestic violence victims another tool to help them decide to leave a violent ­relationship.

Opposition prevention of family violence spokeswoman Jenny McAllister said the government needed to make a firm commitment to dump the measure and rule out reintroducing it.

“Women and children should not be forced to make the impossible choice between escaping violence and eroding or perhaps completely draining their meagre retirement savings,” she said.

Senator McAllister said the scheme would force women leaving violent relations to “run down” their superannuation.

Figures from the Australian Human Rights Commission estimate that the average superannuation payout for women is one-third of the payout for men: $37,000 as compared with $110,000.