CENTRELINK SHOULD HELP WOMEN LEAVE VIOLENT RELATIONSHIPS

BILL SHORTEN MP.
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4 years ago
CENTRELINK SHOULD HELP WOMEN LEAVE VIOLENT RELATIONSHIPS
BILL SHORTEN MP
Our social safety net should assist women experiencing family violence and make it easier for them to leave violent relationships.
 
We know that financial security remains a critical barrier to women attempting to leave a violent relationship.
 
This latest report shows how Centrelink is simply not providing critical assistance for women experiencing family violence when they need it most. In fact, Centrelink processes are making them more financially vulnerable and actually adding to their trauma.
 
The report also revealed that information was being inappropriately handled by Centrelink to be used as evidence against women experiencing family violence, including police and hospital records. This is abhorrent and unacceptable.
 
The Morrison Government needs to urgently review Centrelink rules and processes to ensure that our social safety net can flexibly meet the complex circumstances of women experiencing family violence.
 
Centrelink under the Morrison Government is failing women experiencing family violence.
 
This report from ANROWS comes after revelations in March that the Morrison Government’s private Centrelink workforce inadvertently provided the personal information of women who left violent relationships, to their abusive partners.
 
Social Services