Julie Adams faces a painful reality in the wake of her daughter, Molly’s, tragic overdose death. Molly ended her life in July 2022 after becoming trapped in an abusive relationship and unable to access shelter for survivors. Molly’s struggle for safe housing became heartbreaking when her abuser seized her superannuation money. Regardless of the fact that Julie was the sole named beneficiary, her claims went unheard. This is yet another example of all the systemic failures that allowed abusers to profit off of their victims’ tragedies. Consequently, advocates are pushing for emergency legislative relief.
At least 410 people killed by suicide in Western Australia in 2017 alone. Nearly half of victims had a history of domestic abuse. Of these victims, 124 were women and children. This tragic statistic serves as a reminder of a growing social issue that has received increased focus since the unfortunate Molly passing. Advocates have long contended that existing laws put survivors at risk, especially in regard to financial assets such as superannuation.
Molly’s mothers superannuation was $65,000, an amount that should have taken care of her mother’s future. Rather, it highlights a chilling practice in which abusers are able to financially profit from their victim’s death. Christina Hobbs, an advocate for reform, underscores the importance of these legislative protections by saying, “Having stronger legislative protections for victimized people is critically important.”
“This is useful legislative change. But we need legislation that really does protect victims.” – Christina Hobbs
Hobbs explains that current legislation mandates the defaulting of superannuation benefits to a partner. Even if a victim names a family member or friend as beneficiary, under the right circumstances, the partner can still access the funds by establishing financial interdependence. This loophole puts victims in an untenable position.
“Ultimately, we need to see manslaughter legislation adjusted,” – Christina Hobbs
The confluence of domestic violence and financial abuse further entangles the lives of survivors such as Julie Adams. She reflects on Molly’s fate, stating,
“She can’t stand up for herself any longer.”
Adams is pushing for reforms that would do justice to Molly’s life, and make sure that her story does not slip through the cracks.
“She never had the chance to live the life she should have had. And these reforms are a way of making her life have meaning beyond the life that she had.” – Julie Adams
This legislative change would help to plug loopholes which have seen abusers awarded their victim’s superannuation benefits. Victims advocates and their allies counter that perpetrators should be stopped from profiting off of their crimes. They explain that often, victims find themselves needing further systemic changes to protect them from further financial exploitation.
“A perpetrator getting their victim’s super death benefit is an extension of the abuse,” reads a statement from domestic violence advocates. “The intention to introduce these reforms is a critical step towards ensuring that people’s superannuation is protected and not used as a financial reward for perpetrators.”
As advocacy for these reforms continues, advocates are highlighting the need for reliable support services to help people in crisis. You can contact the Suicide Call Back Service by calling 1300 659 467. For immediate support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you are 25 or under, contact Kids Helpline to talk about what you’re going through. To reach Australian Federal Police’s Crime Stoppers service, dial 1800 55 1800. For other mental health support, people can call 1300 22 4636.
If you are a survivor of family or domestic violence, help is out there. Contact 1800RESPECT at 1800 737 732 or by text on 0458 737 732 for support. Their service, run by No to Violence, provides support to men who need it on 1300 766 491.
Advocates such as Hobbs stress the significance of safeguarding victims’ rights. They assert that these rights cannot be stepped over, particularly in times of crisis. They emphasize the need to rethink how legal systems address cases in which domestic violence is a contributing factor.
“Even if somebody has nominated their parent, a sibling, a friend as a beneficiary of their super … in most cases … it would still go to a partner,” – Christina Hobbs
Advocates have long called for reform — advocates who know firsthand the challenges of financial dependency in abusive relationships. In particular, they contend that domestic violence cases should be treated with equal gravity. They argue that these incidents must result in reforms of manslaughter laws.
