Advocates slam government for leaving domestic violence crisis out of budget of ‘must-haves’

Critical measures to curb family violence and help victims have been left off the “must-have” list funded in the NSW state budget, advocates say.

Boosts to social housing, men’s behavioural change programs and victims’ legal assistance workers unveiled on Tuesday were broadly welcomed after “years of under-investment”.

It comes after a $230 million “emergency” package was announced in May amid high-profile femicides in a Bondi Junction shopping centre massacre and the alleged murder of childcare worker Molly Ticehurst.

“There’s a lot more to do in this space and the truth of the matter is this is only a first step,” Premier Chris Minns said in announcing the May package.

But six weeks on, and with frontline services still being swamped, the state remained in need of a significant increase in investment, Full Stop Australia said.

“It is disappointing that increases in funding for specialist sexual violence responses, frontline domestic violence refuges and case work support seem to have been left out of the government’s self-described ‘must-have’ budget,” chief executive Karen Bevan said on Wednesday.

“The testimony of victim-survivors and families who have lost loved ones to domestic violence show us that the need for increased sector capacity and improved system response is non-negotiable.”

The budget featured a total of $245.6 million in domestic violence-related funding, including the already-announced emergency package.

Measures included $10 million to allow a 30 per cent expansion for over-subscribed men’s behaviour-change programs.

More victims will get support with $5.6 million extra in funding for women’s domestic violence court advocacy service workers.

The budget’s central focus on social housing, and opening the door to innovative solutions elsewhere, was incredibly pleasing, Women’s Community Shelters chief executive Annabelle Daniel said.

It was important to recognise however that providers faced demand 50 per cent above what they could provide.

“Bringing funding levels up to meet that is something that wasn’t there in the budget,” Ms Daniel told AAP.

Domestic Violence NSW said the initiatives helped improve responses to domestic and family violence as NSW plays “catch-up after years of under-investment”.

But the peak body for 180 frontline services warned injections, such as $260 million for crisis accommodation, would help some but not all.

“This investment does not match the scale of the homelessness crisis with women and children living in cars and tents,” acting chief executive Elise Phillips said.

Greens MP Abigail Boyd criticised the government for putting “the safety of victim-survivors of domestic and family violence in the ‘nice to have’ basket”.

The state’s domestic violence prevention minister conceded on Wednesday that the funding status quo had not been adequate.

“It is not good enough and we should not accept that,” Jodie Harrison told parliament.

But Labor was setting about up-ending that status quo with investments helping victims across housing, refuges, policing, courts and counselling, she said.

A major part of the budget’s marquee $5.1 billion social homes package will also reserve 3100 places for domestic violence survivors.

“Our budget is an incredibly important step in addressing the drivers of family violence, supporting those who are experiencing it and holding perpetrators to account,” Ms Harrison said.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

Lifeline 13 11 14