Five years after her former partner left her with tax and other debts worth more than $12 million, Christine, whose name has been changed to protect her safety, is still trying to clear her name.
The physical abuse started when she entered the relationship.
But in 2021, after she had left the marriage, creditors threatened to seize Christine’s home as they pursued her for $186,000 in alleged debts.
Christine soon realised the debts were largely because her former partner had made her a company director of a business she had no part in running. He also took out hefty loans under Christine’s name without her knowledge.
By the time Christine unravelled the extent of her financial abuse, the separated mother of two realised she owed millions to banks, credit agencies and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino is unveiling a suite of changes aimed at closing the opportunities for financial abuse.
Perpetrators of domestic violence would be punished rather than rewarded for their actions when committing abuse against their former partners by racking up tax and other debts in their name.
Ms Dal Pra, who works at non-profit community group Each, said she wanted the law to be changed to waive tax debts entirely in cases of financial abuse.
Source: Government to introduce new laws cracking down on perpetrators of financial abuse – ABC News