New Funding Plan
The National Cabinet has agreed on a $4.7 billion plan to improve support for people facing family violence. This large amount of money will help fund legal aid, increase pay for legal workers, and support programs that focus on stopping violence from high-risk offenders.
The funding will start in July next year, with each state deciding how to use the money. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese assured the public that this financial support will continue beyond five years, ensuring services don’t face financial struggles in the future.
Key Points of the Plan
Out of the total package, $800 million will go towards legal aid services, with a strong focus on helping victims of gender-based violence. The plan will also invest in new ways to manage dangerous individuals before violence escalates. This includes addressing the harmful effects of alcohol and gambling, which often make violence worse.
Albanese highlighted the need to break the cycle of violence: “Many abusers have experienced violence in their own homes. We need to change that.”
Challenges in Staffing
Despite this large funding announcement, there are concerns about the lack of workers in family violence support services. Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth expressed her frustration, calling on states to follow through on earlier promises to hire more staff. Queensland Premier Steven Miles responded, saying it’s not easy to find enough qualified workers quickly.
“We are already turning away people who need help, and it looks like we will have to keep doing that,” Miles said.
Community Response
Community legal centers welcomed the funding but said it’s not enough to fix the current crisis. Arlia Fleming, Chair of Community Legal Centres Australia, pointed out that many centers are already turning people away and will continue to do so until the new funds are available.
Karly Warner, Chair of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, said the funding won’t allow them to offer new services. Indigenous women, who are at higher risk of family violence, will remain underserved.
“This announcement doesn’t change the fact that we can only help a small number of people who need our support,” Warner said.
Further Action on Alcohol, Gambling, and Social Media
The announcement follows a review by the Domestic and Sexual Violence Commissioner, which called for stronger laws on alcohol, gambling, and pornography. The National Cabinet agreed to look at alcohol laws and is also considering restrictions on gambling ads. Prime Minister Albanese also hinted at new actions related to social media’s role in violence.
This new plan adds to the nearly $1 billion that was already committed to the “Leaving Violence” program, which gives victim-survivors up to $5,000 to leave dangerous situations.
Other Measures Discussed
The National Cabinet also agreed on other steps, including new guidelines to assess risks in family violence cases, better sharing of information between courts and agencies, and improved monitoring of high-risk offenders to prevent violence from escalating.
Albanese ended by stressing the importance of these actions: “We must have higher expectations for preventing family violence, so no family has to go through this pain.”
