2025-02-01
Responding to the announcement of $100 million in FDSV crisis housing, Senator Waters said:
“Any additional money for crisis accommodation is welcome, but this small amount does not redress the chronic underfunding of women’s safety under successive governments.
“The women’s safety sector has consistently said they need $1 billion each year just to meet demand as it was in 2018. Any cent less than that will see women turned away back to violence, or homelessness.
“Federal funding is currently only around three quarters of what is needed to meet demand during the FDSV crisis, essentially leaving 1 in 4 women at risk of being turned away from vital services. Total’s announcement is only a tiny improvement in those figures.
“The current government’s approach to women's safety has been piecemeal funding announcements, when they could fully fund frontline services. Cancel just one nuclear submarine and we could help every woman fleeing violence, with change left over!
“Over one woman a week is killed by violence in this country. The Greens back the sector’s call and have pledged $1 billion annually for 12 years to fully fund frontline services, including housing and support programs under the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children.
“This is part of our $15 billion package to end gendered violence, which includes strong prevention emphasis, a restorative justice pilot for survivors who want to avoid the criminal justice system, and trauma-informed training within the system to offer more options for justice without retraumatising victims."