Financial abuse can financially punish women for leaving their partners, or coerce women into a debt that traps them in a relationship with their perpetrators. The Federal government and private sectors have already made progress, but a long term and coordinated approach is necessary to address this problem.

Labor announced in the Federal election legislative action to keep women safe from perpetrators of financial abuse. Achieving economic safety for women will position Australia as a leader in gender equality that prioritises the dignity of women and places responsibility on unscrupulous perpetrators. Protecting women and children’s agency, independence, and dignity is central to a decent society. To support government to prioritise action, the Centre for Women’s Safety has written the Progress Review 2025: Government action on recommendations relating to economic abuse, which you can read here.

WK is proud to support the Centre for Women’s Economic Safety in amplifying the recommendations made by advocates and academics, corresponding with authors who have made recommendations made in the last ten years to inform the Centre for Women’s Economic Safety’s Progress Review of the current status of implementation of the recommendations, with Pro Bono Partner Leanne Ho supporting government advocacy.