FULL Stop Australia’s CEO Karen Bevan has responded to the budget, handed down on Tuesday, 14 May, and is urging further reform in support of victim-survivors of domestic violence.
According to Ms Bevan, the scale of the national emergency of domestic and gendered violence has not been matched by the scale of the Federal Government’s investment in this budget.
As recently as two weeks ago there was talk of a national emergency, a National Cabinet meeting, and the need for a comprehensive investment in women’s safety.
“From that we saw and acknowledged some important first steps,” Ms Bevan said.
“But that is where progress stopped. This budget has failed to continue driving important and necessary change.”
Funding in this Budget brings the Federal Government’s total investment to over $3.4 billion to support women’s safety and the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032.
“There is no new funding for frontline services, particularly for specialist sexual violence services. There are huge funding gaps across response and recovery programs, which is where the critical work is done providing support to victim-survivors.
“If we want to end gender-based violence, we need to see more than tweaks to existing programs. This national emergency will persist unless the federal government invests in front line services and responses.”
According to Ms Bevan, Full Stop welcome ongoing funding for the Leaving Violence Program, a program that puts resources directly in the hands of women and children leaving violent situations, supports healing and recovery, and provides victim-survivors with opportunities to reestablish their independence.
Ms Bevan said Full Stop look forward to working with government and the sector to see continued and increased investment in infrastructure to prevent, respond to and create pathways for recovery for victim-survivors.
Full Stop Australia is one of the country’s leading sexual, domestic and family violence response and recovery services, established in Sydney in 1970.
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