Women’s Safety Supported in Budget 2005-06

The Howard Government remains committed to the elimination of domestic violence and sexual assault and today announced continued support.

The Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, announced $75.7 million in funding to support the important Australia-wide Women’s Safety Agenda.

“The successful Violence Against Women. Australia Says No multimedia campaign will be re-run, supported by a 24-hour help line,” Senator Patterson said.

“The Howard Government will also continue funding for the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse and the Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault national resource centres, which provide central points for the collection and dissemination of Australian domestic and family violence and sexual assault policy, practice and research.

“The allocation of this funding will also enable research into domestic violence and sexual assault, training for nurses in regional and rural areas, including assistance for GPs to release them for this training, training for the criminal justice sector on sexual assault and continuation of the valuable research program on the various aspects of sexual assault by the Australian Institute of Criminology.

“Another important resource which will be further supported by this funding is Mensline. We know that by re-running the Violence Against Women campaign, the counsellors at Mensline will need further training and materials on domestic violence.

“The funding of the Women’s Safety Agenda delivers on the Howard Government’s election commitment to continue to take a lead role in eliminating domestic violence and sexual assault in the Australian community.

“I am heartened by the funding for this program which demonstrates that the Howard Government is further addressing the main themes of women’s safety: prevention, health, justice and services,” Senator Patterson said.