Jelena Dokic has lambasted the federal government’s proposed superannuation plan, detailing how early entry to retirement financial savings might assist girls escape home and household violence.
The 39-year-old tennis champion-turned-commentator advised the ABC’s Q&A program on Monday how she herself had fled a violent dwelling on the age of 19.
While she stated she’d been fortunate to have her skilled tennis profession to assist her, she stated most girls didn’t have the monetary means or stability to flee.
Her feedback got here after Treasurer Jim Chalmers started a session program on Monday, aiming to legislate an goal of superannuation. Through this, the federal government is looking for to make sure future insurance policies abide by a perception that tremendous needs to be for retirement earnings.
Ms Dokic stated the matter was not “black and white”.
“There are a lot of different areas where I think you should be able to access it (super),” Dokic stated.
“I think there is so much we’re seeing today when it comes to domestic violence, for example; women are so afraid to leave and one of the reasons is because they feel like they won’t be able to start again – they won’t be able to set themselves up.
“I was in that position when I was 19. I was just lucky with the fact that I was a professional athlete. I had the ability to go and earn a living, but I left home with nothing. I was basically on the street.
“There are so many women out there that are in the same position, so maybe making it where you can withdraw $10,000 and put your money to use when you really need it.
“There are so many people who are not even going to be able to get to retirement or be able to have a dignified retirement because they are not going to make it. They might not even be here.”
During her look on Q&A, Ms Dokic didn’t make particular point out of her father, Damir, however has beforehand recounted his abuse in her autobiography Unbreakable.
In 2021, former prime minister Scott Morrison proposed victims of home abuse be capable of withdraw $10,000 from their superannuation, nonetheless his authorities didn’t proceed with the plan.
As it at the moment stands, entry to superannuation earlier than the age of 65, or preservation, is proscribed solely to conditions the place somebody is completely incapacitated, has a bodily or psychological situation which prevents them from working, is dying, or their cherished one is.
There are additionally provisions for extreme monetary hardship, however home violence just isn’t particularly talked about.
Dr Chalmers’ intention to legislate an goal of goal was to make sure any future insurance policies surrounding laws didn’t deviate from the “yard stick”.
It follows the discharge of $36 billion of Australians’ tremendous throughout Covid-19, the place early entry was allowed in the course of the preliminary months of the pandemic.
To that, Dr Chalmers has vowed “never again”, saying his proposal would guarantee Australians are much less reliant on authorities subsidies of their retirement.
Superannuation funds have on the whole been supportive of the federal government’s transfer, whereas the Coalition and a few crossbenchers have voiced their concern and criticism.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
