Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Children’s Commissioner welcome the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Cabinet’s funding announcement to end gendered violence in Australia this morning. The $4.7 billion package will include crucial support to frontline services and legal assistance for survivors.
“This funding is an important step to ensure that critical frontline services can continue to assist those impacted by gendered violence,” Sex Discrimination Commissioner Dr Anna Cody said.
“The commitment to funding beyond the five-year plan is vital. Long-term and stable funding allows service providers to plan ahead and reach more women and children in need. We know how important community legal services are for women and children,” said Dr Cody.
The Commissioners also welcome the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Cabinet’s focus on flexibility for states and territories. However, in keeping with the Rapid Review’s emphasis on prioritising First Nations communities, Dr Cody stated that it is essential we see a specific injection of funding into services that address the unique needs of First Nations peoples, culturally and racially marginalised (CARM) communities, and other underrepresented groups.
“Without this commitment, we risk leaving some of our most affected communities behind in the broader effort to end gender-based violence.
“I also applaud the funding committed to men’s behaviour change programs. However, this alone is not enough – we must focus on the Rapid Review’s recommendation to work with men to address root causes of violence and create systemic change,” Dr Cody said.
Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss welcomed the focus on the commitment to First Nations communities and stressed the importance of ensuring meaningful partnerships.
“We must engage with and listen to the voices of First Nations women in shaping these reforms,” said Commissioner Kiss. “There is an undeniable link between the ongoing crises of missing and murdered First Nations women, forms of violence that are largely perpetrated by white men. Any effective solution must be grounded in genuine collaboration with First Nations communities and cultural safety.”
Commissioner Kiss also stressed the importance of addressing the intersection of alcohol use and domestic violence.
“The role of alcohol as a factor in exacerbating domestic and family violence cannot be ignored. I look forward to seeing an outcome from the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Cabinet’s commitment to reviewing alcohol laws and addressing their impact on violence.”
³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds said, “I congratulate the Ministers on allocating significant funds specifically to address the needs of children and young people who experience violence in childhood.”
” The evidence shows that preventing and addressing childhood experiences of violence will help to stop violence against women as well as prevent many other serious problems throughout their lifetimes.
“Despite data showing that domestic, family and sexual violence is the most common type of maltreatment experienced in childhood, in the past the needs of children have been largely ignored. This new focus and investment in the needs of children is long overdue and most welcome.”
The Commissioners also applauded the introduction of a national best practice risk assessment framework but stressed the importance of inclusive consultation processes.
“The development of any national framework must include the voices of people with disabilities, children and young people, First Nations communities, CARM individuals, and LGBTQIA+ groups. These groups face unique challenges, and their inclusion in policy design is critical to ensuring that no one is left behind,” said Dr. Cody.
