Aaron Violi (Casey, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I want to echo the member for Bean's words but also commend the member for Swan for this motion. It's a tough subject to talk about, but sometimes the toughest subjects are really the most important to talk about. We have an important role in this House in shining a light on challenging, difficult issues that impact a lot of people.

A habit that I've had for many years is, on a Sunday, to read the Barefoot Investor in the local paper, and I've always found it good; he was a great financial adviser, unofficially, to me, growing up, and I took on his 'buckets' theory. Reading it is something I've continued to do, because it gives me a great perspective on issues and challenges that people have, and, as an MP, I've found it quite helpful in that regard as well.

On the weekend, there was a letter to him written by someone called Denise that really touched me at the time, and I think it's appropriate that I share it now, just to put a real person and a real story behind what we're talking about when we talk about financial abuse and the impact it will have. These are Denise's words. 'Dear Scott, I've been married for 35 years, and I am scared. I'm only 81 days away from accessing my super balance, which is $30,000. I need to take that money and escape from my husband. I would be leaving a property worth $1.7 million. Nothing is in my name, only the debt of $170,000 that is left on the mortgage. I know I'm losing everything I've worked for, but I'm scared of him and scared that he can take what I have left. I feel I need to take the money and go overseas so he can't find me.' When I read that on Sunday, it hit me hard. There's a lot in that that's challenging. There's obviously Denise's situation, but I think many in this House, reading that or listening to that at home, would realise the options she has and the reality. How can he own the $1.7 million house but she owe the debt? It defies financial logic.

But we all, outside of the situation, understand that this is the perverse nature of financial abuse, domestic violence and the control that is exhibited in a partnership. It's important that we shine a light on that.

Scott did give Denise some good advice, and I hope she takes that up. And to anyone listening at home who is in a tough situation: there is support out there for you; you have more options and more rights than you know. It's important that, across the aisle, we—the government, the states, the not-for-profits and the banks—all work together to support those who don't think they have an option.

Let's not pretend this is an easy situation. And I'm not at all trying to be political. I commend the government. Many have spoken about their strategy. It is important that we have a strategy and we work together. So I'm not, in any way, saying this to be political. But we need to acknowledge that it is complex and challenging. There are other issues at play, as well, with that domestic violence. Often, there's substance abuse; often, there are challenges from socioeconomic status. We need to recognise that and to not judge those in these situations but provide them with options and information.

We also need to remember that, in many of these cases, there are young children and families that are involved. We need to think about what those children are seeing, what they're learning and what impact it's having on them. How can we help break the cycle and give them a safe place?

I know that they're only a little thing, but breakfast programs at schools are vital. My wife is a teacher's aide, and I know the impact it has to give those who need it a little bit of normality. It's important that we do what we can to continue to break that cycle and to allow children to understand that it's not acceptable behaviour; it's not normal.

The unfortunate reality in Victoria, with the lockdowns, was that many children were exposed to significant and difficult situations. We need to keep continuing to support those children and support those mothers that are caught in these tragic situations. So I commend the member for Swan for shining a light on this challenging issue.

See this speech in context