The Morrison Government is delivering on its priority to keep Australians safe and secure through a significant agreement from the Council of Australian Governments on the Fourth Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010‑2022.
The Fourth Action Plan sets an ambitious agenda to eradicate violence against women and their children across five national priorities.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his Government would deliver a record $340 million in funding with a clear objective to prevent violence before it happens, as well as supporting those Australians affected by domestic violence. Addressing the specific needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is also a key priority of the plan.
“All women and children must be able to live safe and free from violence. My Government’s priority is to make sure every Australian has choice and control over their own lives.
“Prevention is the centrepiece of this package. We want to change attitudes to violence, and help those who think violence is an option to stop.”
As part of the Morrison Government’s $68.3 million investment in prevention, we are providing $20.9 million for Our Watch to establish a national prevention hub and deliver a range of community outreach programs to increase the understanding of the drivers of violence against women, and behaviours and attitudes that underpin this violence.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne said the first three action plans of the National Plan have made significant progress, but more work is needed to reduce the rates of violence.
“Over the past ten years we have seen an improvement in the knowledge and attitudes of Australians towards violence against women,” Minister Payne said.
“To step up this progress, we are elevating primary prevention as a key priority of the Fourth Action Plan to help stop domestic, family and sexual violence before it starts.”
“We are also calling out sexual violence and sexual harassment more than ever before, investing $16.5 million in prevention and response initiatives.”
Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said Lifeline Australia had been awarded $26.2 million to continue the DV-Alert program to support about 18,500 frontline workers to recognise, respond and refer appropriately to domestic and family violence.
“Lifeline has been working with the Government for many years to build capability in the workforce to understand and take action to support women experiencing violence and this funding will allow them to continue their important work,” Minister Ruston said.
The Morrison Government is continuing work with states and territories to develop a national implementation plan, which will outline the policies and programs all governments will implement to address the Fourth Action Plan priorities, as well as setting out how performance will be monitored and measured over the life of the Plan. The implementation plan will be released later this year.
Since 2013, the Australian Government has committed more than $852 million to reducing violence against women and their children. This includes the $340 million committed in the 2019-20 Budget:
- $328 million to support the Fourth Action Plan
- $4.9 million to better support former partners of veterans impacted by domestic violence
- $7.8 million for dedicated men’s support workers in all Family Advocacy and Support Services.
Visit plan4womenssafety.dss.gov.au
