NEVILLE,

At the start of this year, Prime Minister for Women Tony Abbott promised that solving Australia’s growing domestic violence epidemic would be a national priority.¹ Yet, last week’s Federal Budget told a different story.

Nowhere in the Budget did we see new funding for refuges or homelessness agencies, including refuges, who are forced to turn away hundreds of people every night – many of whom are escaping domestic violence. Nor did we see new funding for women’s community legal services, where a third of the work relates to domestic violence.

Without fully-funded frontline services, Australia’s domestic violence epidemic will continue to shake the nation. Already this year, 25 Australian women have been killed by a current or former partner, and with current levels of funding for services, women are being turned away from services they rely on.² This cannot go on.

We’ve produced a powerful new ad with campaign partner Fair Agenda. Click here to watch the compelling new ad – and chip in to kick off a national ad campaign, to get this in front of the leaders who need to see it most.

Click here to watch the video and chip in to put it on the air in Parliament, and in front of key voters.

The Government is coming under more and more pressure to put its money where its mouth is – and we know they’re starting to listen. Over the weekend, the Government announced an extra $4 million in funding for 1800 RESPECT, the helpline for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. This is an important step in the right direction, and a testament to the advocacy groups who are working so hard to put domestic violence on the agenda. But on its own, it’s simply not enough. Some services are still having to turn women away from services that are supposed to help.³

It will take fully funded frontline services like those shown in this video to address Australia’s domestic violence epidemic. Fully funding community legal centres, women’s refuges, and homelessness agencies would be a good start.

Let’s show our Prime Minister what it would take to live up to his promise on domestic violence. If you can chip in now, together, we can reach thousands of people with this powerful video – starting today. We’ll direct your donation towards funding online ads in key marginal electorates, where the Coalition is paying close attention to the public’s reaction to their Budget. Any further funds raised will be used to turn the video into an ad for Sky News, where it’ll be aired nationally and beamed right into the halls of Parliament, placed in front of those who need to hear this story most.

Too many stories are going untold already. Will you help make sure this story is put right in front of the decision-makers who need to see it?

https://www.getup.org.au/frontline-against-violence

Thank you for standing up for the services that make Australia safer.

Aurora and the GetUp team, with Renee at Fair Agenda

PS – Here’s some of the moving feedback on our Facebook page, from the GetUp members who have already watched the video:

I don’t think Abbott realises how hard that first step to leave is, it’s devastating. Then to be ignored when you reach out is soul crushing. We need shelters, host families and we need them now. – Toni

Thank you, this is exactly what it was like. Both having nowhere time go, and fleeing with the support of refuge services. – Lyssa

Whatever the number of women killed, it’s too many. Shining the light on the need to fully fund frontline services is so important. – Olivia

Let’s make sure our MPs hear this message too. Click here to watch the video, and chip in to get it on the air.

References:

[1] COAG agenda to address ending violence against women, Media release from Prime Minister Tony Abbott, 28 January 2015
[2] Budget 2015: Funds ‘too little’ to fight domestic violence, The Australian, May 14 2015.
[3] What Will It Take report, Fair Agenda

If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence and would like help, please call 1800 RESPECT.

For confidential counselling, information and referrals to help stop using violent or controlling behaviour, please call 1300 766 491.

GetUp is an independent, not-for-profit community campaigning group. We use new technology to empower Australians to have their say on important national issues. We receive no political party or government funding, and every campaign we run is entirely supported by voluntary donations. If you’d like to contribute to help fund GetUp’s work, please donate now! To unsubscribe from GetUp, please click here. Our team acknowledges that we meet and work on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We wish to pay respect to their Elders – past, present and future – and acknowledge the important role all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within Australia and the GetUp community.

Authorised by Sam Mclean, Level 14, 338 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000.