❓ Mr Eatts questions the Premier on the lack of domestic violence refuges in the Warren-Blackwood electorate despite government investment in other regions. The Premier responds by outlining the government's broader initiatives and investments in combating family and domestic violence across WA.
AnsweredQoN 692Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Family and domestic violence—Refuges—Warren–Blackwood
692. Mr Bevan Eatts to
the Premier:
I refer to the 16
Days in WA campaign and the government's announcement that it will expand
family and domestic violence refuges in Albany, Broome and Midland. Despite
this, not a single family and domestic violence refuge exists anywhere in the Warren–Blackwood
electorate.
How can the Premier
claim to be strengthening support for victim-survivors when one of the largest
regional electorates in WA has zero women's shelters, forcing local families to
rely on overstretched services hundreds of kilometres away?
692. Mr Bevan Eatts to
the Premier:
I refer to the 16
Days in WA campaign and the government's announcement that it will expand
family and domestic violence refuges in Albany, Broome and Midland. Despite
this, not a single family and domestic violence refuge exists anywhere in the Warren–Blackwood
electorate.
How can the Premier
claim to be strengthening support for victim-survivors when one of the largest
regional electorates in WA has zero women's shelters, forcing local families to
rely on overstretched services hundreds of kilometres away?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for the question. As members know, family and domestic violence is a scourge on
our community. It is important that we not only find safe places for
victim-survivors to have the opportunity to get to with their families and
dependants, but also make sure that we continue to raise community awareness
and that we have a way of prosecuting the perpetrators of family and domestic
violence. It is one of the reasons that we were the first government in Western
Australia's history to appoint a Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic
Violence, making sure that it became a priority for this government. The 16 Days
in WA campaign provides an opportunity every year to remind ourselves of this
issue and to reflect on our important determination to continue to drive down
the incidence of family and domestic violence.
Since 2017, we have
invested over $700 million in new funding. This is not just funding; this is
new funding into FDV initiatives on top of what existed back then. It includes a
41% increase in refuge capacity across WA. This is a significant lift in the
number of refuges in the community, adding 91 new units. We are now expanding
refuge capacity, with 102 more units in the pipeline. We are boosting the Safe
at Home program. We have also done other things. We have passed firearm reforms
to ensure that firearms are taken out of the hands of perpetrators of family
and domestic violence. I think those opposite should reflect on that important
initiative in this place and the stance they took in relation to it. We passed
electronic monitoring laws. We expanded FDV response teams and operations to
seven days right through regional WA and now into the metropolitan area. We
strengthened training for frontline workers. Police are reporting the highest
rate of offenders being arrested and charged in seven years.
This is the
important part of what we are doing to reduce family and domestic violence. It
does not mean we can be in all places at all times, but it does mean that
through this ambitious and bold program we are extending the number of domestic
violence services right through the state. I know the Minister for Prevention
of Family and Domestic Violence was in Albany last week talking about the
opening of six self-contained units in that area. She was in Kalgoorlie
discussing the opening of some family refuge units. She was in Broome talking
about the opening of a six-unit facility in that town as well. We have an ambitious
program to extend that network by another 102 units. We are obviously on the
pathway to getting the spread that we need.
for the question. As members know, family and domestic violence is a scourge on
our community. It is important that we not only find safe places for
victim-survivors to have the opportunity to get to with their families and
dependants, but also make sure that we continue to raise community awareness
and that we have a way of prosecuting the perpetrators of family and domestic
violence. It is one of the reasons that we were the first government in Western
Australia's history to appoint a Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic
Violence, making sure that it became a priority for this government. The 16 Days
in WA campaign provides an opportunity every year to remind ourselves of this
issue and to reflect on our important determination to continue to drive down
the incidence of family and domestic violence.
Since 2017, we have
invested over $700 million in new funding. This is not just funding; this is
new funding into FDV initiatives on top of what existed back then. It includes a
41% increase in refuge capacity across WA. This is a significant lift in the
number of refuges in the community, adding 91 new units. We are now expanding
refuge capacity, with 102 more units in the pipeline. We are boosting the Safe
at Home program. We have also done other things. We have passed firearm reforms
to ensure that firearms are taken out of the hands of perpetrators of family
and domestic violence. I think those opposite should reflect on that important
initiative in this place and the stance they took in relation to it. We passed
electronic monitoring laws. We expanded FDV response teams and operations to
seven days right through regional WA and now into the metropolitan area. We
strengthened training for frontline workers. Police are reporting the highest
rate of offenders being arrested and charged in seven years.
This is the
important part of what we are doing to reduce family and domestic violence. It
does not mean we can be in all places at all times, but it does mean that
through this ambitious and bold program we are extending the number of domestic
violence services right through the state. I know the Minister for Prevention
of Family and Domestic Violence was in Albany last week talking about the
opening of six self-contained units in that area. She was in Kalgoorlie
discussing the opening of some family refuge units. She was in Broome talking
about the opening of a six-unit facility in that town as well. We have an ambitious
program to extend that network by another 102 units. We are obviously on the
pathway to getting the spread that we need.
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