“People often ask, ‘Why doesn’t she leave?’,” she said. “What we should ask is, ‘Where would she go?’ and ‘What help is available?’ We want women fleeing violence to know that financial support is available.”
Ged Kearney, Assistant Minister for Social Services and the Prevention of Family Violence, said the initial period when people were leaving an abusive relationship was often the most dangerous, making financial support especially important.
“No one should have to choose between fleeing violence or affording food and shelter for themselves and their children,” she said.
While the permanent plan has been welcomed by advocates, it has also been criticised for falling short of the amount of funding and support needed to combat the problem of domestic and family violence.
Federal and state governments will also contribute a further $700 million to frontline services from July 1, including funding for women’s refuges, community outreach services and men’s behaviour change programs focused on high-risk perpetrators.
