As a result of EJA’s advocacy, Social Security Income Support is now included in the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children. The Department of Social Services (DSS) Social Security Guide was also updated to say that Centrelink decision-makers should take into account the presence of family and domestic violence when making assessments about whether a person is a ‘member of a couple’ for social security purposes. More information about the changes is available here and here. Thank you to everyone who signed the Open Letter and supported our campaign.

Domestic Violence Reform Campaign (2022-23)

On 26 August 2022, Economic Justice Australia gave the following letter to Government:

Prime Minister, Hon Anthony Albanese MP
Minister for Social Services, Hon Amanda Rishworth MP
Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher
Minister for Government Services, Hon Bill Shorten MP
Minister for Indigenous Australians, Hon Linda Burney MP
Assistant Minister for Social Services and the Prevention of Family Violence, Hon Justine Elliot MP

We call on the Government to implement the changes as set out in Economic Justice Australia’s legislative brief to

      • include Social Security Income Support in the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Their Children;
      • and amend the following provisions of the Social Security Act:
        • Discretion to treat someone as not being a member of a couple in section 24
        • Special circumstances debt waiver s1237AAD (Social Security Act 1991) and s101 (A New Tax System Family Assistance (Administration) Act 1999)
        • Crisis Payment s1061JH (Social Security Act)
Leaders of the following organisations have signed on to the Open Letter
  1. ACOSS
  2. ACT Council of Social Service
  3. Anglicare Australia
  4. Anti-Poverty Week
  5. Arc Connect
  6. Arise Foundation
  7. Basic Rights Qld
  8. Brotherhood of St. Laurence
  9. Canberra Community Law
  10. Central Tablelands and Blue Mountains Community Legal Centre
  11. Centre for Women’s Economic Safety Ltd
  12. Community Legal Centres Australia
  13. Consumer Action Law Centre
  14. Council of Single Mothers and Their Children
  15. Darwin Community Legal Service
  16. Dawn House
  17. Economic Abuse Reference Group
  18. Fair Agenda
  19. Family Violence Legal Service Aboriginal Corporation (SA)
  20. Financial Counselling Association of WA
  21. Financial Counselling Australia
  22. First Nations Women’s Legal Services Qld
  23. Full Stop Australia
  24. Gippsland Community Legal Service
  25. Global Sisters
  26. Good Shepherd Aus & NZ
  27. Host International
  28. Illawarra Legal Centre
  29. inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence
  30. Justice Connect
  31. JusticeNet SA
  32. Katherine Women’s Information and Legal Service
  33. McAuley Community Services for Women
  34. Mission Australia
  35. Mountains Community Resource Network
  36. National Council of Single Mothers and their Children
  37. North Qld Women’s Legal Service
  38. Northern Community Legal Centre
  39. Older Women’s Network NSW
  40. Peel Community Legal Centres
  41. Peninsula Community Legal Centre Inc
  42. Redfern Legal Centre
  43. Sacred Heart Mission
  44. Safe and Equal
  45. Second Chance Programme, Queensland
  46. Sisters Inside
  47. Social Security Rights Victoria
  48. South East Community Links
  49. Suicide Prevention Australia
  50. The Impact Lab
  51. Top End Women’s Legal Service
  52. Uniting Communities
  53. UTS Business School
  54. VIBE Support
  55. Welfare Rights & Advocacy Service
  56. Welfare Rights Centre (NSW)
  57. Westjustice
  58. Whittlesea Community Connections
  59. WIRE
  60. Women’s Electoral Lobby Australia
  61. Women’s Legal Service Tasmania
  62. Women With Disabilities Australia
  63. Women’s Legal Centre ACT
  64. Women’s Legal Service NSW
  65. Women’s Legal Service Queensland
  66. Women’s Legal Service WA
  67. Women’s Legal Services Australia

Documents

Research reports

Media

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with Leanne Ho (Economic Justice Australia) holding the Legislative Brief
Economic Justice Australia's CEO, Leanne Ho, presenting the Letter to Government and Legislative Brief to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
Leanne Ho (Economic Justice Australia) with Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth holding the Legislative Brief
Economic Justice Australia's CEO, Leanne Ho, presenting the Letter to Government and Legislative Brief to Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus with Leanne Ho (Economic Justice Australia) and Katherine Boyle (Welfare Rights Centre). Leanne is holding the Legislative Brief.
Economic Justice Australia's CEO, Leanne Ho, and Deputy Chair, Katherine Boyle, presenting the Letter to Government and Legislative Brief to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus