Act for Kids has congratulated the Commonwealth Bank on its decision to ban customers who use internet banking to send abusive or intimidating messages.
Act for Kids Executive Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy, Stephen Beckett said it was clear Australia’s banking system was being hijacked by perpetrators of domestic violence and child abuse.
“We were alarmed to hear of yet another banking function that is being used by perpetrators of domestic violence and child abuse to intimidate and menace their victims”, he said.
“We applaud the Commonwealth Bank for acting”.
“Act for Kids has been critical of the banking sector in the past, particularly those who have facilitated payments by known paedophiles, enabling them to purchase online child exploitation material,” he said.
Act for Kids took aim at its own bank Westpac, when it was revealed the banking giant had failed to carry out appropriate due diligence on customers whose accounts showed money transfers indicative of child exploitation risks, and had breached anti-money laundering and terrorism rules on more than 23 million occasions.
“We wrote to the then CEO of Westpac Brian Hartzer, and to the Australian Banking Association’s CEO Anna Bligh outlining our dismay that the bank had allegedly turned a blind-eye to the abuse and sexual exploitation of children,” Mr Beckett said.
“As an organisation committed to keeping children and families safe, we applaud the Commonwealth Bank for taking these steps to protect victims of abuse.”
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For media opportunities, please contact Zoe Templeton, PR and Communications Specialist, on:
M: 0427 794 666
E: zoe.templeton@actforkids.com.au