MEDIA RELEASE: FEDERAL AND WA LABOR WILL WORK TOGETHER TO PREVENT FAMILY VIOLENCE

FEDERAL AND WA LABOR WILL WORK TOGETHER TO PREVENT FAMILY VIOLENCE
 

Federal and WA Labor met in Perth today to discuss combined plans to improve front line services for women and children who have experienced family violence.
 
Preventing and responding to family violence is a shared Federal and State responsibility – and it is critical both levels of government work together.
 
Western Australia has the second highest rate of violence against women and their children in the country, costing the state economy an estimated $2.8 billion annually.
 
We all have a role to play in turning this around, and government has a responsibility to show leadership and invest in change.
 
This is why Labor is committed to ensuring that people experiencing family violence have access to the necessary support and services to get safe and to rebuild their lives.
 
WA Labor is delivering important reforms, including: 

  • Investing in more women’s refuges in Perth;

  • Reforming residential tenancy legislation to allow women to remain in safe and secure accommodation;

  • Introducing paid domestic violence leave in the WA public service;

  • Delivering education and prevention strategies to support victim safety and perpetrator accountability;

  • Expanding residential men’s behavioural change programs.

 
Federal Labor will deliver funding announced for the Fourth Action Plan, and in addition to this a Shorten Labor Government has already made commitments to:

  • Legislating for 10 days paid domestic violence leave in the National Employment Standards.

  • Delivering around 20,000 Flexible Support Packages to provide practical support to people escaping family violence, at a cost of $60 million.

  • Investing $88 million into the Safe Housing fund, to deliver more emergency housing, including for women and their children escaping family violence. 

  • Building 250,000 new affordable homes, many of which will benefit people rebuilding their lives after leaving violent relationships.

  • Immediately beginning work on a new National Plan and make preventing family violence a Council of Australian Governments priority.

  • Reinstating a National Advisory Group, which the Liberals axed, to guide the development of a new National Plan.


Federal Labor will continue to work with WA Labor as we finalise our election policies for the prevention of family violence.

Together, a Shorten Federal Labor Government and a McGowan WA Labor Government will deliver significant and lasting change in preventing family violence.

Guest User