On the ABC yesterday.

Rather horrific stories about young Indian Women brought to live in Australia.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-29/dowry-abuse-domestic-violence-kasish-story/8745118

The trouble started when Kasish's new husband wanted her to take the blame for his driving offence, to save his demerit points. When she refused, he hit her for the first time.

"He hit me, he scold me, he pull my hair," she said.

"He said: 'Why are you not giving to me? I am your husband, you have to give to me. All [the] people are doing it'."

When the driving offence took place, Kasish wasn't even in Australia. She was a newlywed in India's capital, Delhi, planning to move to Melbourne to be with her husband.

They met on a matrimonial website, where potential husbands and wives can be searched for with filters including annual income, caste, and whether or not they have been married before. No-one wants a partner who is divorced, Kasish says.

"A divorce is not acceptable in India, not acceptable in my family. And I never [thought it would] happen to me in my life," she said.

It's not just husbands

In India marriage and money go hand in hand because of the payment of dowry — an ancient and illegal financial custom.

When she got married, Kasish's family paid her new husband and his family a $50,000 dowry, in cash, jewellery, gold and white goods — including a washing machine, TV and air conditioner — for her new in-laws.

That's a standard dowry commanded by Australian-Indian men, according to a domestic violence caseworker who says she has seen hundreds of cases of dowry-related abuse in South Australia.

Avni doesn't want to use her real name, to protect her clients' identities. She works with migrant women in Adelaide, where legal and social workers say dowry-related abuse is increasing.

Family and domestic violence support services:1800 Respect national helpline: 1800 737 732Women's Crisis Line: 1800 811 811Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491Lifeline (24-hour crisis line): 131 114Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277

Typically, a woman's family pays between $25,000 and $50,000, including bearing the cost of a lavish ceremony, she says.