On 8 May 2018, the Federal Turnbull Government handed down their 2018/19 budget.
Disappointingly, we have not seen a greater commitment from the Federal Government in relation to ongoing systemic, financial investment for national family violence reform.
According to Jacqui Watt, CEO of No to Violence, Australia’s largest peak body representing organisations and individuals working to end men’s use of family violence:
“In 2017, we saw pressure build on the Federal Government in relation to their lack of investment, long-term vision and commitment to tackle family violence on a national level. Here we are today putting the pressure back on. We need a commitment to long-term, bi-partisan support for national family violence reform, the Fourth Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Their Children 2010-2022, and Victoria’s Royal Commission into Family Violence recommendations; particularly those that the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) has committed to funding.” – Jacqui Watt No to Violence CEO
The Federal Government committed to further investment into the National Outcome Standards for Perpetrator Interventions (NOSPI), however there has been no new investment into further development and roll out of the NOSPI. In last year’s 2017/18 Federal Budget, no new funding was apportioned to NOSPI – a now static national framework – and in this year’s Federal Budget there has been no further investment commitment.
Jacqui Watt continues:
“Much like men who use family violence against their partner and children, we’ve seen the NOSPI slip through the cracks. If we aren’t engaging with men about their use of violence in a coordinated fashion, and on a national level, how can we truly alleviate the burden from women’s family violence crisis services; homelessness services; mental health and alcohol and other drug services; and the most obvious, prisons?
The ‘the lock them up and throw away the key’ approach is futile, costs the taxpayer millions, and is a short-term fix to reduce recidivism. We need community-based responses; for example more funding into men’s intake referral services, Men’s Behaviour Change Programs, and case management. We would have liked to have seen a greater commitment from the Federal Government, and disappointingly, we haven’t.”
[ENDS]
Media enquiries:
Contact Camille Gierck on 0401 337 241 or camilleg@ntv.org.au
Further interview and photo opportunities also possible on request.
