Neve
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
Neve is in her late 40s and has a psychosocial disability. Her now-estranged husband is in the police and, she told the Royal Commission, continues to exploit her financially.
It began about 15 years ago when Neve’s father passed away and she inherited millions of dollars in shares. Neve’s husband, co-executor of her father’s will, got ‘pissed off’ and exploited the fact that she was ‘depressed and grieving’ to trade the shares under her name.
About 10 years later, Neve’s mum died. Neve’s husband tricked her into signing over her mother’s house.
‘Police removed me from my house. [He] said we were going to sell it and split the money but this didn’t happen … [He] also has our kids.’
‘The wheels fell off and I had a breakdown,’ Neve told us. She is now on a disability pension.
Neve believes her husband’s position in the police force has helped him maintain his control over her.
‘I have tried several times to take out an AVO against [him] for financial abuse but these were rejected and I was scheduled.’
Now, Neve’s husband has an AVO against her. ‘I can’t go see my kids or house,’ she said.
‘[He] set my mental health label and led me into NDIS through conversing with my mental health doctors … [He] gets into my mail, social security, hacks my computer … Lots of money milked from my bank account … I tried to report to police … [He] gave me stigma so I am dismissed when I make suggestions. Because I’m labelled everything is seen as all mental health issues …’
Neve would like to see better accountability mechanisms and oversight bodies that can provide people like her with more assistance.
She would also like to see better protection for whistleblowers so the media is better able to uncover and report on corruption.
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.