20 September 2023
The peak body for male family violence in Australia has called for the NSW Government to do more to prevent family violence following the release of a budget that fails to recognise the importance of working with men to end their use of domestic and family violence.
“The NSW Government has missed an opportunity here,” said No to Violence CEO Phillip Ripper. “In a state that has seen the highest rate of family violence related homicides in the country, the lack of funding for male perpetrator interventions along with modest funding allocated to services supporting women and children impacted by violence is disappointing.”
“We know at least 15 women and three children have died in NSW this year due to men’s family violence. This is more than any other state and highlights the devastating impacts of not doing more to stop men’s use of violence.”
“It also highlights that this budget is not fit to match the scale of the crisis.”
The First Action Plan under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children (2022-32) highlights the urgent need to improve the capacity and capability of the specialist men’s family violence workforce, the need for tailored interventions for men from diverse groups and communities, and the need for housing options for men who use violence to empower women and children to remain safe in their own homes.
“These were key asks in NTV’s NSW Election Statement, and we are deeply disappointed to see that none of these asks have been committed to by the NSW Government in this Budget,” said Mr Ripper.
“NSW has signed up to the National Plan, however this budget does little to realise that commitment, especially when addressing the causes of family violence and the need for men’s behaviour to change.”
The NSW Budget released yesterday was also particularly opaque, with significant lack of detail around how government departments and services are funded. Forward estimates of how funding commitments break down each year are also not provided. This poor transparency undermines verbal commitments made by NSW Labor to strive for any of the targets set out by the National Plan and it’s First Rolling Action Plan 2023-2027.
“As the peak body for organisations and individuals that work with men who use violence to change their behaviour and keep women and children safe, we know that we cannot stop domestic and family violence until we shift the burden of accountability to the men who choose to use violence and appropriately fund the programs and services that work with men,” said Mr Ripper.
“This is why in NSW, NTV has consistently outlined the need to develop the perpetrator intervention workforce, invest in Men’s Behaviour Change Programs, develop tailored interventions for diverse communities, and improve justice and legal responses to domestic and family violence.”
While disappointed with the lack of attention paid to services that work with men who use violence and also the lack of transparency contained in the budget, No to Violence did welcome the announcement of $39.1 million to prevent domestic, family and sexual violence and support victim-survivor safety.
This includes $4.4 million over three years to establish a new specialist multicultural domestic and family violence centre in southwest Sydney; $4.3 million to extend the service delivery of 12 community-based prevention, early intervention and crisis projects; $8.1 million to continue and expand the Redfern Legal Centre Financial Abuse Service NSW; and $6.1 million to extend and expand the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service Hearing Support pilot.
“We also welcome the $52.7 million for 48 new Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners and medical and forensic officers and $34.3 million to support 20 Women’s Health Centres to continue delivering essential health, mental health and social support services to NSW women,” said Mr Ripper.
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Note to outlets: Please run the Men’s Referral Service number and the following tagline so that all men in Australia who need help, can access help.
Stop the cycle of violence. If you are concerned about your or someone else’s behaviour, call Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit mrs.org.au for advice and support.
Please contact David Sutherland at davids@ntv.org.au or 0405 354 343.
About No to Violence
No to Violence is Australia’s largest and only national peak body for organisations that work with men that use violence, providing training, sector development and advocacy across the sector.
It also operates the Men’s Referral Service, providing a counselling service and referral pathways directly to men who use violence.
Our primary concern is the safety and wellbeing of women and children. Always. Visit ntv.org.au
