A Centrelink error put Alannah in danger from her abusive partner. Now there’s a push for federal platforms to better protect women

Financial abuse occurs in 79-99% of cases of domestic and family violence, according to estimates, while 16% of women and 7.8% of men in Australia experience partner economic abuse in their lifetime. Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/PA

As Alannah* made plans to leave her abusive partner, she had to involve Centrelink.

She contacted them and requested they make her parenting payments into her new account – not the joint account she shared with her ex, who was emotionally, financially and psychologically abusive for years. He was later convicted of an offence against her.