❓ The Premier outlines the government's collaboration with the Family and Domestic Violence Taskforce, detailing investments in victim support, prevention programs, and legislative reforms, totaling $72.6 million, including funding for the Stirling Women's Centre and public education campaigns.
AnsweredQoN 896Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FAMILY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE — PREVENTION
896. Ms C.M. TONKIN to the Premier:
I refer to the state's ongoing efforts to reverse the
cycle of family and domestic violence in Western Australia.
(1) Can the
Premier outline to the house how the government has collaborated with the
Family and Domestic Violence Taskforce to develop a package of important
targeted investments?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house how these investments will support victim–survivors
and help prevent abuse before it happens?
896. Ms C.M. TONKIN to the Premier:
I refer to the state's ongoing efforts to reverse the
cycle of family and domestic violence in Western Australia.
(1) Can the
Premier outline to the house how the government has collaborated with the
Family and Domestic Violence Taskforce to develop a package of important
targeted investments?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house how these investments will support victim–survivors
and help prevent abuse before it happens?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I thank the member for Churchlands for the very good question. Let me publicly
acknowledge the member's commitment
around the issues of family and domestic violence. Before I respond to the
question , I acknowledge the lives lost and the lives impacted by family
and domestic violence in WA.
On Saturday, the annual 16 Days in
WA — Stop Violence Against Women campaign began. This is the seventh
iteration of this campaign and an important opportunity to remind everyone
about the devastating impact of family and domestic violence. We have these
campaigns because family and domestic violence continues to cast a shadow over our Western Australian community. Until
it is stopped and there is a broader understanding of the insidious
forms of abuse, we are the poorer for it. As Premier, I am determined to lead a
government that plays its part in reversing this pattern of violence, and I am
resolved to continuing to build the community's understanding. We owe
it to the victims, we owe it to the survivors and we owe it to society as a whole
to continue on this mission.
This
Labor government has taken this issue seriously from the start. Over the past
six years, we have invested more than $300 million into vitally
important programs and infrastructure to address family and domestic violence—from
building FDV one-stop hubs to critical legislative reforms that support victim–survivors
and hold perpetrators to account. We also committed to stronger laws around GPS
monitoring of family violence perpetrators.
The first tranche of these reforms is expected to be introduced into Parliament
this week.
Recently, in the wake of some
horrific FDV tragedies, Minister Winton, a number of cabinet members and I attended
a family and domestic violence forum. It was convened by the Centre for Women's
Safety and Wellbeing. A key request from
attendees was to establish a family and domestic violence taskforce. We have since put that taskforce in place. Today I can give members an update on
the input in the form of new funding.
Today I attended the Seven West Media
family and domestic violence breakfast at Burswood with the minister, a number
of other ministers and the member for Vasse. This morning I updated the
community on this. I announced an investment of $72.6 million to stamp out
family and domestic violence. This will be split into two streams: family
programs that support victim–survivors; and funding to help stop abuse before it happens. We will invest $22.6 million
into the Stirling Women's Centre—a crisis accommodation centre for those escaping violence at home. We will launch a two-year public
education campaign to challenge outdated and
dangerous views, including the insidious threat of coercive control, more
education in our schools and online.
It includes expanding the Respectful Relationships program, which is a program
vehemently opposed by members of the Liberal Party. Funds will also go towards
grants, expanding perpetrator programs and enhancing the Safe at Home program.
I want to thank the FDV taskforce for its ongoing work and input so far. I understand
its work will wrap up around April next year.
Although there is much to do, there
has been progress. We are at a time when there has never been more reporting of
domestic violence to our police, there has never been more information about
the shape and form of domestic violence and there has never been more community
consensus about the fact that it is never
okay. Yes, FDV remains an ominous cloud that looms over an otherwise prosperous
state, but with continued investment and attention from the bright minds
in this state, together we can stop the cycle of abuse.
I thank the member for Churchlands for the very good question. Let me publicly
acknowledge the member's commitment
around the issues of family and domestic violence. Before I respond to the
question , I acknowledge the lives lost and the lives impacted by family
and domestic violence in WA.
On Saturday, the annual 16 Days in
WA — Stop Violence Against Women campaign began. This is the seventh
iteration of this campaign and an important opportunity to remind everyone
about the devastating impact of family and domestic violence. We have these
campaigns because family and domestic violence continues to cast a shadow over our Western Australian community. Until
it is stopped and there is a broader understanding of the insidious
forms of abuse, we are the poorer for it. As Premier, I am determined to lead a
government that plays its part in reversing this pattern of violence, and I am
resolved to continuing to build the community's understanding. We owe
it to the victims, we owe it to the survivors and we owe it to society as a whole
to continue on this mission.
This
Labor government has taken this issue seriously from the start. Over the past
six years, we have invested more than $300 million into vitally
important programs and infrastructure to address family and domestic violence—from
building FDV one-stop hubs to critical legislative reforms that support victim–survivors
and hold perpetrators to account. We also committed to stronger laws around GPS
monitoring of family violence perpetrators.
The first tranche of these reforms is expected to be introduced into Parliament
this week.
Recently, in the wake of some
horrific FDV tragedies, Minister Winton, a number of cabinet members and I attended
a family and domestic violence forum. It was convened by the Centre for Women's
Safety and Wellbeing. A key request from
attendees was to establish a family and domestic violence taskforce. We have since put that taskforce in place. Today I can give members an update on
the input in the form of new funding.
Today I attended the Seven West Media
family and domestic violence breakfast at Burswood with the minister, a number
of other ministers and the member for Vasse. This morning I updated the
community on this. I announced an investment of $72.6 million to stamp out
family and domestic violence. This will be split into two streams: family
programs that support victim–survivors; and funding to help stop abuse before it happens. We will invest $22.6 million
into the Stirling Women's Centre—a crisis accommodation centre for those escaping violence at home. We will launch a two-year public
education campaign to challenge outdated and
dangerous views, including the insidious threat of coercive control, more
education in our schools and online.
It includes expanding the Respectful Relationships program, which is a program
vehemently opposed by members of the Liberal Party. Funds will also go towards
grants, expanding perpetrator programs and enhancing the Safe at Home program.
I want to thank the FDV taskforce for its ongoing work and input so far. I understand
its work will wrap up around April next year.
Although there is much to do, there
has been progress. We are at a time when there has never been more reporting of
domestic violence to our police, there has never been more information about
the shape and form of domestic violence and there has never been more community
consensus about the fact that it is never
okay. Yes, FDV remains an ominous cloud that looms over an otherwise prosperous
state, but with continued investment and attention from the bright minds
in this state, together we can stop the cycle of abuse.
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