Labor is once again announcing something that isn’t new or adequate funding for frontline services. Meanwhile, Destroy the Joint report that at least 40 women have been killed by family and domestic violence this year.
Australian Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on women, Larissa Waters
“Labor’s announcement today is yet another re-hash of previously committed funding. The 19 projects that will be constructed will be done using $100 million in funding announced in the 2022-23 October Budget.
“The construction of 720 safe places is welcome and desperately needed, but will accommodate at most a mere three percent of women and children seeking housing. Moreover, waiting three years until 2027 for these facilities to be built is cold comfort to women and children being killed by family and domestic violence now.
“This government keeps making announcements, but there’s never any new or adequate funding for frontline services, which is what the women’s safety sector and this crisis of men’s violence demands.
“In 2022-23,73,287 people experiencing family and domestic violence presented to homelessness services. 720 safe places is a drop in a very large ocean of need – at most it could help three percent of people who need help – and they won’t provide anyone safety until 2027.
“With no new funding announced today for crisis accommodation or affordable housing, Labor is forcing women and children to remain in violent households, because there is nowhere for them to go.”