The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP
Minister for Social Services
The Hon Dr Daniel Mulino MP
Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services
Assistant Minister Ged Kearney MP
Assistant Minister for Social Services
Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence
The Albanese Government is determined to ensure that superannuation is used to provide financial security and dignity, not used in ways that entrench harm or reward abuse.
We are commencing public consultation on reforms to prevent perpetrators of family and domestic violence from receiving the superannuation death benefits of their victims.
In some circumstances, current laws can result in superannuation death benefits being paid to a person who perpetrated family or domestic violence against the deceased.
We are committed to strengthening protections for victim‑survivors while maintaining fairness, legal certainty and confidence in the superannuation system.
Public consultation will help ensure any reforms are practical, balanced and informed by both expert input and the experience of victim-survivors and their families.
The Government encourages submissions from family and domestic violence organisations, frontline support services, the superannuation sector and the wider community.
Submissions can be made until 15 April 2026.
The consultation paper is available on the Treasury consultation hub.
It's part of our commitment to building a safer Australia, where women and children can live free from violence.
The Albanese Government has invested more than any Australian government ever with more than $4 billion in frontline services, prevention initiatives, behaviour change and programs for children across government.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Social Services, Tanya Plibersek:
"Superannuation is meant to give people security and dignity in retirement.
"If someone who has been the victim of family or domestic violence dies, their tormentor shouldn't benefit financially from that.
"This is another important step towards delivering our election commitment to close loopholes and prevent financial abuse in Commonwealth systems."
Quotes attributable to the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, Daniel Mulino:
"Perpetrators of family or domestic violence should be punished, not rewarded for their actions.
"This is part of our work to close opportunities for financial abuse."
Quotes attributable to the Assistant Minister for Social Services and Assistant Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Ged Kearney:
"Losing a loved one is painful on its own. We want to close this loophole to spare families additional heartache.
"Superannuation death benefits should be provided to people we love, not those who have caused us harm.
"The Albanese Labor Government is determined to address family and domestic violence from every angle, from closing loopholes in financial systems, to investing in preventive and behaviour change programs, to supporting our frontline workers."
