❓ Mrs O'Malley asks the Premier for an update on government measures to end family and domestic violence. The Premier details increased funding, refuge expansion, and support programs, highlighting the 16 Days in WA campaign and the government's commitment to victim-survivors.
AnsweredQoN 685Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Family and domestic violence—16 Days in WA campaign
685. Mrs Lisa O'Malley to
the Premier:
I refer the Premier
to his Labor government's commitment to building safe and inclusive communities
so that Western Australians feel secure at home and in the community.
Can the Premier
update the house on the measures the government is taking to end the scourge of
family and domestic violence?
685. Mrs Lisa O'Malley to
the Premier:
I refer the Premier
to his Labor government's commitment to building safe and inclusive communities
so that Western Australians feel secure at home and in the community.
Can the Premier
update the house on the measures the government is taking to end the scourge of
family and domestic violence?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for the question. It is a very important one, because today we are about
halfway through a very important stage in every year's calendar—our 16
Days in WA campaign. The campaign is bookended by the International Day for the
Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November and Human Rights Day on 10
December. The 16 Days in WA campaign started under the WA Labor government in
2017. I acknowledge not only the Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic
Violence, but also her predecessors in this place. Mr Speaker, 2025 marks the
event's ninth year. That is nine years of putting a spotlight on one of the
darkest issues facing Western Australia. I put on the record today my deep
appreciation for those involved. To those advocates, service providers and peak
bodies, I say thank you. Thank you for the work you do day after day to drive
change.
I pay tribute to the
lives lost to and impacted by family violence. It is the reason one of my
government's key priorities is to build a safe and inclusive Western Australia and
to ensure that everyone has a secure home and place to work in the community by
delivering effective law reform to support victim-survivors and hold
perpetrators to account.
Yesterday, along
with the Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence, I announced
that the government will invest an additional $110 million so that we can keep
shifting the dial—to keep victim-survivors safe, hold perpetrators to
account and raise awareness of family and domestic violence issues across
Western Australia. As we all know, one of the key beneficiaries of our silence
are family and domestic violence perpetrators, so it is important that we all
take the opportunity to speak about it, raise awareness and raise
consciousness. The funding that we have announced
will increase refuge capacity across the state. This allows us to build upon
the 91 new refuge units already delivered in WA since 2017, with another
102 additional units in the pipeline. It will grow FDV response teams so that
they can respond seven days a week, expand the Safe at Home program, continue
the coercive control training for first responders and behaviour change
programs for perpetrators, and expand support for victim-survivors through
counselling and therapeutic services.
This brings our
total investment towards the prevention of family and domestic violence to $708
million since 2017. That is extra funds poured into a desperately needed area
to continue to make sure that we support the victim-survivors, chase the
perpetrators and ensure everyone knows that family and domestic violence should
not be tolerated in our community. It also represents the largest investment
package in this space any government in our history has undertaken, and it is
one of which we are rightfully proud.
We know there is
more to be done. There is always more to be done. We have to raise more awareness.
We have to make sure that victims of family and domestic violence feel heard
and that when they speak, they will be listened to and their concerns will be
actioned. We have to make sure that they have safe places to go and the
supports, and that everyone in the community understands that no form of family
and domestic violence is okay. We will continue to make sure that we provide
extra investment to ensure we bring that message home.
for the question. It is a very important one, because today we are about
halfway through a very important stage in every year's calendar—our 16
Days in WA campaign. The campaign is bookended by the International Day for the
Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November and Human Rights Day on 10
December. The 16 Days in WA campaign started under the WA Labor government in
2017. I acknowledge not only the Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic
Violence, but also her predecessors in this place. Mr Speaker, 2025 marks the
event's ninth year. That is nine years of putting a spotlight on one of the
darkest issues facing Western Australia. I put on the record today my deep
appreciation for those involved. To those advocates, service providers and peak
bodies, I say thank you. Thank you for the work you do day after day to drive
change.
I pay tribute to the
lives lost to and impacted by family violence. It is the reason one of my
government's key priorities is to build a safe and inclusive Western Australia and
to ensure that everyone has a secure home and place to work in the community by
delivering effective law reform to support victim-survivors and hold
perpetrators to account.
Yesterday, along
with the Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence, I announced
that the government will invest an additional $110 million so that we can keep
shifting the dial—to keep victim-survivors safe, hold perpetrators to
account and raise awareness of family and domestic violence issues across
Western Australia. As we all know, one of the key beneficiaries of our silence
are family and domestic violence perpetrators, so it is important that we all
take the opportunity to speak about it, raise awareness and raise
consciousness. The funding that we have announced
will increase refuge capacity across the state. This allows us to build upon
the 91 new refuge units already delivered in WA since 2017, with another
102 additional units in the pipeline. It will grow FDV response teams so that
they can respond seven days a week, expand the Safe at Home program, continue
the coercive control training for first responders and behaviour change
programs for perpetrators, and expand support for victim-survivors through
counselling and therapeutic services.
This brings our
total investment towards the prevention of family and domestic violence to $708
million since 2017. That is extra funds poured into a desperately needed area
to continue to make sure that we support the victim-survivors, chase the
perpetrators and ensure everyone knows that family and domestic violence should
not be tolerated in our community. It also represents the largest investment
package in this space any government in our history has undertaken, and it is
one of which we are rightfully proud.
We know there is
more to be done. There is always more to be done. We have to raise more awareness.
We have to make sure that victims of family and domestic violence feel heard
and that when they speak, they will be listened to and their concerns will be
actioned. We have to make sure that they have safe places to go and the
supports, and that everyone in the community understands that no form of family
and domestic violence is okay. We will continue to make sure that we provide
extra investment to ensure we bring that message home.
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