The war on domestic and family violence has received much needed reinforcements with an extra $160 million to be invested on refuges in regional areas like the Tweed over the next four years, Tweed Nationals MP Geoff Provest has announced.
“One of the first decisions of new Premier Dominic Perrottet was to invest a record $484 million to tackle domestic and family violence and Nationals Deputy Leader and Minister Women Bronnie Taylor has secured more than a third of that funding for regional New South Wales,” Mr Provest said.
“Minister Taylor has told me that means more safety for Tweed victims and survivors, including new or upgraded women’s refuge facilities at a site or sites that cannot be disclosed for safety reasons.”
Mr Provest said domestic violence statistics made grim reading despite the best efforts of everyone involved in preventing it.
“NSW Police have to respond to more than 140,000 calls for help each year and, on average, one Australian woman is killed by her partner or former partner every nine days,” Mr Provest said.
“There is also a very clear message to the cowards who strike and abuse women and children: there is never a valid excuse, what you are doing is a disgusting crime and we are going to lock you up.”
Premier Dominic Perrottet said he had decided on the single biggest investment in tackling domestic and family violence in the State’s history because everyone has the right to live a life free from violence and abuse.
“That is a right that is far too often callously eroded by those who perpetrate domestic violence,” Mr Perrottet said.
Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said DFV is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children, illustrating the high demand for these critical services.
“One of the most important things we can do in government is to ensure that when a victim-survivor makes the courageous decision to leave a violent home – a time when she actually faces the greatest risk – that there’s a secure, supportive environment waiting to help her,” Mrs Taylor said.
For confidential advice, support and referrals, contact: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), The NSW Domestic Violence Line (1800 65 64 63), NSW Rape Crisis (1800 424 017) or Men’s Referral Service (1300 766 491). In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).