| *Trigger warning: discussion of domestic violence
Neville,
Another week, and another woman has been killed, allegedly at the hands of her former partner.1 At the same time, victims fleeing family violence look set to lose critical support services, with more than 50 organisations that provide critical family violence services set to cut staff, slash programs, or close entirely as a result of brutal federal government cuts.2 Unless enough of us speak out against it.
A huge public outcry could turn this into a make or break issue for our “Prime Minister for Women”. Pressure on the government is already mounting, with shocking swings against the Liberal National Party in Queensland, and ongoing speculation about challenges for the Liberal Party leadership. We know public pressure has forced them to back down on funding cuts before — we’ve seen it with the proposed tertiary education changes and the medicare co-payment. And now with Australian of the Year Rosie Batty speaking out about the hypocrisy of these funding cuts, the heat is well and truly turning up on this issue.3
Together, we could make this issue so politically toxic for the federal government that they’re forced to reinstate funding. Can you sign your support and show we won’t stand for funding cuts that hurt family violence victims?
Last week, after naming Rosie Batty as Australian of the Year, Tony Abbott publicly declared his government’s commitment to addressing the scourge of family violence in our country – touting his decision to put the issue on the agenda for the Council of Australian Governments this year. 4 It’s a positive commitment – but stands in stark contrast to funding cuts that will hurt women and children trying to escape violence.
From the 28th of this month, cuts are set to take effect across the departments of the Attorney-General, Social Services and Prime Minister and Cabinet.5 They’ll impact on services like:
* The National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services, an organisation which specifically works with indigenous families – which will be forced to close unless new funding is found,
* Community Legal Centres – that will lose front line family violence specialists and expect to have to turn away women and children at services across the country, and
* The Women’s Legal Centre for the ACT and surrounding region – which expects to have to turn away 500 women a year as a result of the cuts.6
Prime Minister Abbott has said his government is committed to eliminating violence against women.7 But these cuts will leave survivors of violence without critical services and support.
It’s time all Australian Governments committed all the resourcing needed to address this devastating problem, and support survivors. Reinstating the cuts made in the last budget is just the first step.
Can you sign and share this campaign, to build as much pressure as possible on Prime Minister Abbott and his government to reverse these cuts?
Thanks for all you do,
Renee for Fair Agenda
*If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, you can call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for 24/7 support.
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References
1. Man remanded in custody over alleged axe murder of pregnant partner on Gold Coast, ABC news, 3 February 2014.
2. Australian of the Year Rosie Batty calls on PM Tony Abbott to reinstate community services, Sydney Morning Herald, 1 February 2015.
3. As above.
4. COAG agenda to address ending violence against women, Prime Minister’s office, 28 January 2015.
5. Australian of the Year Rosie Batty calls on PM Tony Abbott to reinstate community services, Sydney Morning Herald, 1 February 2015.
6. As above.
7. COAG agenda to address ending violence against women, Prime Minister’s office, 28 January 2015. |
