After months of submissions and evidence by individuals and organisations, a long-awaited Senate inquiry into the nature and prevalence of dowry and dowry abuse in Australia has published its report.
One of the inquiry's key findings is the recommendation that the term 'economic abuse' be included as a form of family violence under the existing Family Law Act 1975.
At present, there is no reference to dowry abuse in the Family Law Act and Victoria is the only state that specifically includes dowry abuse in legislation as an example of family violence.
The report suggests federal government work with states and territories harmonise existing legislation.
Committee chair Senator Louise Pratt says the inquiry found it was clear dowry is being used as a form of abuse.
"I'd seen cases where women, while they were still overseas waiting to marry their prospective spouses, are being asked to put more and more money into their husband's bank account, only to find that they don't have access to that money themselves and that their spouse is not putting any money in, and that that money has been transferred to other people."
In a significant step towards protecting the rights of women on temporary visas, the committee has recommended creating a temporary visa for non-family temporary visa-holders who have suffered serious and proven family violence, including dowry abuse.
