Treasury Laws Amendment (The Survivors Law) Bill 2026; Second Reading

Summary

Survivors of child sexual abuse can now access money from their abuser's superannuation to pay court-ordered compensation. The legislation amends the Tax Administration Act 1953 and the Bankruptcy Act to create a process where survivors apply to the Australian Taxation Office for information about the perpetrator's superannuation contributions made in the 10 years before the abuse started, then ask a federal court to order the release of those funds. This prevents perpetrators from deliberately hiding millions of dollars in superannuation accounts to avoid paying compensation, and ensures that compensation debts survive even if the abuser goes bankrupt—solving a problem where high-profile cases have shown convicted offenders shielding assets while survivors received nothing.

What happens at this stage

The main debate on whether the chamber supports the broad purpose of the bill. Members speak to its overall merits and concerns rather than the fine print. The government outlines its policy intentions; the opposition and crossbench put their case. This is the stage that determines whether the bill proceeds at all.

Next: Consideration in Detail (House) or Committee of the Whole (Senate), where the bill is examined clause by clause