Media Release by The Hon Christian Porter MP

More funding for support services and prevention initiatives to help women live free from violence

Joint Media Release with:

  • Senator The Hon. Michaelia Cash
    Minister for Women

The Coalition Government is investing almost $50 million into frontline services, early intervention initiatives and research to help reduce violence against women and their children.

This funding is part of the $100 million committed to implement the Third Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-2022 (National Plan). The Plan was launched by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the COAG National Summit on Reducing Violence against Women and their Children.

The funding includes:

  • $19.4 million for prevention and early intervention initiatives, including resources to support bystanders to reinforce positive attitudes where it is safe to do so, and helping local governments develop community focused strategies.
  • $15.3 million to improve national frontline services, such as the 1800RESPECT national support service, and an innovation fund to provide safe accommodation.
  • $7.8 million to respond to emerging issues such as technology facilitated abuse and the impacts of online pornography on the behaviours of young people. This includes the development of an online complaints portal where victims can report cases of intimate material being posted without consent and access support.
  • $6.7 million to support information collection and sharing and undertake research to improve our understanding of what works and what needs to be done to reduce violence against women and their children.

Minister for Social Services, Christian Porter said that one of the key priorities under the Third Action Plan is prevention – stopping violence before it happens in the first place.

“The Coalition Government is investing in priorities that will make a real difference to the lives of women and children at risk of experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence,” Minister Porter said.

“We will improve frontline services to give women experiencing violence access to appropriate supports in times of crisis and as they rebuild their future.

“We will address emerging issues such as online abuse and the impacts of pervasive pornography, to stop disrespectful behaviours and the harmful impacts on women and girls. “And of course, we must have robust, reliable and consistent data and research to inform policy and our decision making today, and in the future.

Minister for Women, Michaelia Cash said the Turnbull Government is focused on harnessing the momentum that has been built in recent years.

“We are at the half way mark of the National Plan, our 12 year strategy to create lasting change and reduce violence against women and children in Australia,” Minister Cash said.

“The programs and initiatives funded by the Australian Government and announced today in the Third Action Plan will build on the significant progress already made to reduce violence against women and their children.
“All governments are committed to this issue, but to make a real difference we – communities, organisations and individuals – must stand together.”

“The Turnbull Government has played a pivotal leadership role in terms of reducing violence against women and their children and this is set to continue under the Third Action Plan.”

Visit plan4womenssafety.dss.gov.au for more information on the Third Action Plan

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000. For sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling services call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au

Details of funding

$19.4 million – Prevention and early intervention programs package includes:

  • $4.6m to develop prevention strategies, including supporting culturally and linguistically diverse communities and assisting local governments to work with communities.
  • $3.3m for resources to support bystanders to reinforce positive attitudes where safe to do so.
  • $5.8m to empower women to identify violence and develop a national workforce agenda.
  • $5.7m to reach out to men and fathers with tailored help for first time fathers and support innovative projects to address male violence.

$15.3 million – Frontline services package includes:

  • $5.8m for the national 1800RESPECT national support service to implement the new first responder model and to assist with the increase in demand.
  • $4.2m for a housing innovation fund to provide safe accommodation for women.
  • $5.2m to fund new approaches for innovative service delivery for vulnerable cohorts of women and their children.

$7.8 million -Tackling technology facilitated abuse initiatives include:

  • $4.8m to develop an online complaints portal where victims can report cases of intimate material being posted without consent and access support.
  • $3m to respond to the impact of pornography on young people. This includes developing educational resources to shift attitudes and behaviours and help them develop healthy relationships.

$6.7 million – Understanding what works through data and research includes:

  • $1.5m to identify gaps and impediments to information collection and sharing
  • $5.2m to strengthen research and data collection on the forms of violence experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their children, culturally and linguistically diverse communities and women with disability.