This budget was supposed to elevate the issue of domestic violence and women’s safety as a primary consideration of the Federal Government. Indeed, the Prime Minister had said that domestic violence was arguably the most important national security issue facing the Country.
However, despite the rhetoric, last night’s budget delivered very little new funding for the services women and children actually need to achieve safety, such as specialist legal services, case management, accommodation options and crisis funds.
True, ongoing investments were made in a range of important programs and initiatives aimed at addressing domestic, family and sexual violence, and this included a welcome increase in funding to the 1800RESPECT counselling service and the nation’s primary prevention body, Our Watch, to develop resources to support violence prevention and cultural change.
However, for the hundreds of thousands of women and children impacted by domestic, family and sexual violence right now, this is very little consolation…
