The Hon. AILEEN MacDONALD (14:24): I am happy to inform the House of the increasing support for the Parliamentary Friends of Empowering Older Women Group. As co‑chair I am proud of the bipartisan nature of the group and how it seriously reflects the challenges older women must address, such as financial abuse and economic safety. At a recent event held at Parliament House, we heard from two extraordinary women who are leading the charge to protect and empower women in very real, tangible ways. Catherine Fitzpatrick, founder and director of Flequity Ventures, addressed the group on her mission to disrupt financial abuse and gender bias towards women. Rebecca Glenn, founder and CEO of the Centre for Women's Economic Safety, addressed the group on economic safety to support women experiencing economic abuse in the context of domestic and family violence.

Whether it is coercive control, unauthorised account access or what is chillingly referred to as "sexually transmitted debt", Rebecca's advocacy aims to reframe these abuses as financial crimes. These are not just personal matters; they are systemic failures that need systemic solutions. One thing both speakers made abundantly clear is that no woman is immune from the threat of financial abuse. Whether young, old, wealthy or struggling, women from all walks of life can find themselves victims of this crime. But for older women the risks are particularly devastating because they often have fewer pathways to recover financially after years of abuse and control. Our speakers emphasised that financial abuse is not just a personal tragedy but also a societal failure that requires urgent attention. It is particularly heartbreaking that many older women, after lifetimes of contributing to society, find themselves isolated, controlled and stripped of their financial independence.

We cannot simply stand by and admire the work being done by these trailblazers. As policymakers we need to be proactive to ensure financial safety for women. It needs to be designed into the very fabric of our systems. Businesses, banks and government institutions must all step up to prevent financial abuse, make it easier for women to seek help, and hold perpetrators to account. Empowering older women is about ensuring that women can age with dignity, security and the confidence that their rights and contributions are valued. This is a fight we cannot afford to ignore, and I am proud to advocate for real and lasting change.