Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek has announced that some Centrelink debts incurred under abuse can now be waived from victim-survivors of family and domestic violence.

According to the announcement, Services Australia will expand waiver provisions to allow Centrelink decision-makers to waive debts, taking into account different circumstances, including coercive and financial abuse, that could cause someone to make a misstatement regarding “a debtor not complying with the law“.

Plibersek said that the social security systems should be a part of the “solution”.

“Every victim survivor who relies on our social security system should feel like they can trust that the system will keep them safe,” she said.

Plibersek also said this is an “important first step” in stopping offenders from using the Commonwealth system as a way to commit abuse.

“Financial abuse is an insidious form of violence, and it’s one of the reasons why women feel it is impossible to leave an abusive relationship,” she said.

The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) has welcomed the reforms. CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie AO, said that reforms are “essential to building a system that supports people in their time of need”, and that victims shouldn’t be forced to carry debts that “entrenched their hardship”.

“No one should be punished for the abuse they endured,” she said. “This is a long overdue and very welcome reform.”

“People relying on income support already suffer from severe stress and worry about putting food on the table, let alone paying off a debt that doesn’t belong to them and is a reminder of hardship.”

In addition to supporting victim-survivors of family and domestic abuse, these waivers will be taken into consideration for people impacted by natural disasters, homelessness and mental capacity.

“There is more work to do,” Plibersek said. “But this reform alongside our boost to frontline services, paid domestic violence leave, housing support for women escaping violence, programs to stop the violence at the start, and family law reform are making a life changing difference.”

Photo: by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade found HERE and used under a Creative Commons License. The image has been cropped.