21 May 2026

No to Violence has warned NSW is pouring hundreds of millions into prisons, policing and crisis responses to domestic and family violence while failing to fund the early intervention and behaviour change responses needed to stop violence before families are harmed and victim-survivors are put at risk. 

The warning comes after the alleged murder of a woman and her two young sons in south-west Sydney this week, in what police described as a “particularly violent” domestic violence crime scene. The tragedy came just days after NSW Police announced almost 1,000 arrests during a statewide domestic violence policing blitz. 

Data released last week from NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) shows the number of people imprisoned for domestic and family violence offences in NSW has risen 15 per cent in the past year and 47 per cent over five years, reaching a record 3,944 people, or 28 per cent of the prison population. 

At the same time, the remand population has climbed to a record 6,650 people, with adults remanded for DFV offences increasing 17 per cent in just four months following tougher bail laws. 

“Record prison numbers should be a warning sign that the system is responding too late,” No to Violence CEO Phillip Ripper said. 

No to Violence, Australia’s peak body for organisations and individuals committed to ending men’s use of family violence, said the figures showed NSW remained trapped in an expensive and reactive cycle. 

“Every horrific death shocks the community, but we continue responding after violence has escalated instead of investing earlier to stop it,” No to Violence CEO Phillip Ripper said. 

“Police themselves say around 40 per cent of their workload now involves responding to domestic and family violence. Yet the system still waits until after serious harm occurs before meaningful intervention begins.” 

This reactive approach is not only ineffective but costly. Holding 3,944 people in prison for DFV offences is costing the NSW Government around $1.8 million per day, or more than $645 million per year. 

By comparison, the $56 million per year No to Violence is calling for to begin implementing NSW’s dedicated strategy for responding to users of violence is a fraction of the cost. 

Mr Ripper said investing earlier in behaviour change, accountability and intervention would not only save lives, but reduce pressure on police, courts and prisons while delivering far better value for public money. 

“We are spending hundreds of millions managing the consequences of violence after families have already been harmed, while underfunding the systems that could stop violence escalating in the first place,” he said. 

Mr Ripper said the Campbelltown murders also highlighted a recurring challenge in family violence responses, with police reporting there had been no prior domestic violence incidents linked to the home. 

“Too often we only look for family violence once somebody enters the justice system,” he said. 

“But many men using violence are already known to workplaces, health services, schools, family members and community services long before police are called.” 

No to Violence said NSW’s first dedicated Strategy to Respond to the Use of Domestic and Family Violence provided a roadmap to strengthen perpetrator responses but warned it had not yet received implementation funding. 

Ahead of next month’s NSW Budget, the organisation is calling for $56 million per year to begin implementing the strategy. No to Violence is also advocating for funding for a NSW peak body focused on ending men’s use of violence and backing calls for a 50 per cent uplift in core funding for specialist DFV services. 

The strategy is a unique opportunity to scale up and strengthen under-resourced responses to men using DFV. Despite approximately 34,000 men receiving Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders each year in NSW, there are only around 900 funded men’s behaviour change program places statewide. 

“The Government already has a clear roadmap to stop violence earlier and hold men accountable before harm escalates,” Mr Ripper said. 

“The question now is whether it will fund prevention and intervention or keep paying for the consequences after lives are destroyed.” 

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Media Contact: Jo Nilsson
Media & Advocacy Advisor, No to Violence
communications@ntv.org.au | 0455666492

About No to Violence   

No to Violence is the Australian peak body for organisations and individuals committed to ending men’s use of family violence.  We support specialist men’s family violence services and operate the national Men’s Referral Service, a 24/7 telephone and online counselling and referral service to link men to the support they need to get on a pathway of change and end their use of family violence.  We undertake research, training and advocacy and work with governments, employers and business to stop family violence at the source. 

Please list the Men’s Referral Service with all Domestic, Sexual and Family Violence stories: The Men’s Referral Service provides counselling and referrals for men who are concerned about their behaviour: 1300 766 491 

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