STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mrs McINTOSH (Lindsay) (13:51): Coercive control is designed to convince a woman she has no choice. Government policy should never make that trap harder to escape. But, under Labor's tax changes, a woman leaving an abusive partner could be hit with a tax penalty just for separating their finances.

That's Labor's tax on widows and divorcees. The Albanese government was warned about the harm this could cause, and 98 days later Australians are still waiting for Labor to fix it. Women escaping violence already face enormous financial barriers just to reach safety.

The cost of leaving a violent relationship has risen 71 per cent in the past decade. Women are going through so much trying to leave their partner. It's costing over $7,000 for an escape.

Seven thousand dollars does not buy a fresh start. It barely buys a shot at one. Labor's support for women leaving violent relationships falls more than $2,000 short.

For many women who do leave, the financial damage follows them out the door. Seven in 10 women who flee leave behind property and assets. Now Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Labor is prepared to fast-track a fix.

Being prepared to fix it is not good enough. Australians want a date. They want it done and they want it done now.

When will Labor finally clean up the widows tax mess it created? No woman should escape her abuser only to find the Albanese government's taxes standing between her and safety. If the government won't fix it, the coalition will certainly step in and offer help, because that's what Australians want.