RECORD INVESTMENT TO TACKLE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

The NSW Government will continue to lead the nation with new initiatives and record investment to prevent and respond to domestic and family violence in the 2016-17 Budget.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Pru Goward and Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian said the Government is doubling its investment in specialist domestic violence services and initiatives to more than $300 million over four years, up from $148.5 million in the 2015-16 Budget.

“This is in addition to the hundreds of millions of dollars the government spends each year to combat domestic and family violence through mainstream services in justice, police, health, child protection, social housing and homelessness services,” Ms Goward said.

“I am pleased the Budget will allocate $53 million over the next four years for a state-wide roll out of Safer Pathway, subject to the successful evaluation of pilot sites. Safer Pathway ensures high-risk victims receive a consistent and integrated multi agency response, it is currently operating in six sites. Nineteen new sites will commence in 2016-17.”

“This Budget will also deliver a new $20 million Domestic and Family Violence Innovation Fund for prevention, early intervention and crisis responses that support the efforts of our specialist domestic and family violence services and refuges.”

Ms Berejiklian said: “Domestic and family violence represents one of the biggest social challenges of our time and requires a whole-of-government response,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“The NSW Government is tackling this issue with this major investment.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Justice and Police Troy Grant said the NSW Government will invest $2.9 million over four years to introduce GPS monitoring to improve victim safety.

“The devices will be fitted to high-risk domestic violence offenders and police will be alerted if an offender is at a location they are prohibited from entering,” Mr Grant said.

“The GPS monitoring can apply to sentenced or paroled offenders, but can also be used to monitor compliance with bail conditions in cases where a victim is protected by an ADVO with geographical restrictions.”

“There will also be an option for a victim to carry a corresponding device so an alert will be generated if the offender approaches their vicinity.’’

“NSW is taking strong and immediate action to apprehend, monitor and rehabilitate offenders before they cause further harm.”

The NSW Government will also invest $22 million over four years to roll out Police High Risk Offender Teams, as announced last October. The first two specialist teams will launch in the Northern Region and the Central Metropolitan Region this year.”

Other initiatives in the upcoming NSW Budget include:

• $43 million over four years for housing supports through Start Safely providing short to medium-term financial help for people escaping domestic and family violence who are at risk of homelessness

• $34 million over four years for the Women’s Domestic Violence and Court Advocacy Program, and an additional $6.3 million over four years to meet unmet demand to respond to police referrals. This investment will ensure victims and their families can continue to receive comprehensive support through the justice system

• $25 million over four years for Staying Home Leaving Violence so women and children can stay safely in their own home or a home of their choice

• $15 million over four years for NGO-led community based perpetrator interventions, including $8 million in new funding, to change behaviour

• $13 million over four years for Victims Services to pilot new responses for male victims such as gay men, or fathers and sons suffering family violence, through expert NGO support