State, territory, and federal leaders have announced a $4.7 billion support package “to respond to the national crisis of family, domestic and sexual violence”.
The funding is mostly focused on improving frontline legal services.
The package also includes prevention initiatives like men’s behaviour programs and services for children impacted by family violence.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the National Cabinet “came together” to move forward on “our shared commitment to end violence against women and children.”
National Cabinet
Federal, state and territory leaders usually meet four times a year for what’s known as ‘National Cabinet’.
Governments put together a plan to combat gender-based violence after an urgent National Cabinet meeting in May.
This included measures such as an age verification trial online, banning non-consensual deepfake porn, and support payments for anyone fleeing violent relationships.
New funding
Today’s National Cabinet meeting laid out a new $4.7 billion joint-funding agreement between governments. The funding will be rolled out over five years, starting from July next year
The Prime Minister said the plan is focussed on four action areas:
- Supporting critical frontline services
- Prevention efforts to “stop violence from escalating”
- More support for children and young people who have experienced violence
- Tackling the impacts of alcohol on violence.
Albanese said community legal centres offer support services “to help victims safely leave and recover from violent relationships, through access to finances, secure housing and safe arrangements for children.”
The PM said the funding will provide certainty for some services, whose current funding agreements were due to expire next year.
Today’s announcement also includes funding for First Nations legal services, as well as young people who have experienced violence.
Men’s behaviour
Men’s behaviour change programs and prevention strategies will also be funded under the new plan.
Programs will be focused on changing the behaviour of “perpetrators of gendered violence.”
Earlier this year, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan told TDA men and boys, “want to be part of the change. They want to be part of the conversation. They need the tools to be able to work with other men and boys in their communities.”
Frontline workers
In 2022, the Federal Government provided states and territories with funding to hire 500 frontline domestic violence workers.
The states and territories missed a 30 June 2024 deadline to hire at least 350 workers.
The latest government figures show roughly 200 of these roles have been filled around the country.
Advocates
Domestic violence prevention organisation, Full Stop, welcomed the funding announcement.
However, CEO Karen Bevan said: “ It is unclear whether sexual violence frontline services will receive a much-needed funding boost.”
Bevan said failing to fund sexual violence services would create a barrier to “ accessing fair and timely justice or specialist support”.
Opposition
Shadow Minister for Women, Sussan Ley, urged the Government to make the funding available sooner.
“I don’t know why we didn’t see an undertaking for money to flow sooner rather than later,” Ley said.
“Not one dollar of this funding will start to flow until the middle of 2025. That is 10 months away.”
“We all must do everything we can to stop this tide of violence.”
