Media Release

Superannuation benefits should be available to assist victims of domestic violence

Published 14 February, 2018

Published 14 February, 2018

14 February 2018

Superannuation benefits should be available to assist victims of domestic violence

Superannuation benefits should be made available to assist victims of domestic violence, according to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA).

ASFA CEO Dr Martin Fahy said that in many cases of domestic violence the victim does not have access to funds to support them to leave the perpetrator and find a new place to live.

In a submission to a Treasury consultation on the early release of super, ASFA supported claims for the early release of super on compassionate grounds being extended to include domestic violence victims and suggested specific eligibility criteria be prescribed.

“In cases where a member wants to leave their partner and has limited or no financial resources, they should be able to access an amount of their superannuation to help them leave,” Dr Fahy said.

In its submission ASFA suggested that, where such a member had accessed domestic violence support services, including through the welfare system, they should be able to apply for early release of some of their superannuation.

ASFA recommended the amount released be restricted to a bond to obtain new accommodation, together with an amount for short-term living costs.

“Domestic violence is a significant issue in the community, so providing access to funds at such a critical time can make a real difference for victims seeking to escape the cycle of violence,” Dr Fahy said.

For further information, please contact:

Teresa Mullan, Media Manager, 0451 949 300.

About ASFA

ASFA is the peak policy, research and advocacy body for Australia’s superannuation industry. It is a not-for-profit, sector-neutral, and non-party political national organisation, which aims to advance effective retirement outcomes for members of funds through research, advocacy and the development of policy and industry best practice.

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Daniel Mulino MP

Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services

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Born in Brindisi, Italy, Daniel was a young child when he moved with his family to Australia. He grew up in Canberra and completed his first degrees – arts and law – at the ANU. He then completed a Master of Economics (University of Sydney) and a PhD in economics from Yale.

He lectured at Monash University, was an economic adviser in the Gillard government and was a Victorian MP from 2014 to 2018. As Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer of Victoria, Daniel helped deliver major infrastructure projects and developed innovative financing structures for community projects.

In 2018 he was preselected for the new federal seat of Fraser and became its first MP at the 2019 election, re-elected in 2022 and 2025. From 2022 to 2025, Daniel was chair of the House of Representatives’ Standing Economics Committee in which he chaired inquiries; economic dynamism, competition and business formation and insurers’ responses to 2022 major floods claims.

In 2025, he became the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services.

In August 2022, Daniel published ‘Safety Net: The Future of Welfare in Australia’, which aims to explore the ways in which an insurance approach can improve the effectiveness of government service delivery.