A dramatic rise in family violence in Melbourne’s west is placing unprecedented pressure on police and support services.
Family violence incidents in the western metropolitan region increased 71 per cent over the past three years, from 5224 reported cases in 2009-10 to 8946 in 2012-13.
Hobsons Bay’s Inspector Richard Paterson said reports had increased markedly in the past six years. “About 40 per cent of all assaults in Hobsons Bay relate to family violence incidents,” he said. “Our focus and priority is directed at recidivist family violence perpetrators, repeat aggrieved family members and juveniles at risk of family violence.”
Footscray-based Women’s Health West says more funding is needed to help the 600-or-so abused women who seek emergency assistance from its crisis response services every month.
Family violence services manager Jacky Tucker said demand had increased 150 per cent since 2009-10, to 2990 police referrals in 2013-14.
Williamstown MP and opposition police spokesman Wade Noonan said too little was being done to target the problem. “Family violence is our major law and order issue and more of the same Napthine government policies will mean more of the same tragedies.”
The state government has allocated $17.8 million for four new Services Connect sites to tackle family violence in Bendigo, Wodonga, Box Hill and Glenroy. There are already sites in Dandenong, Geelong, Preston, Shepparton and South West Coast.
But Greens MP Colleen Hartland said the western suburbs had been overlooked, despite having a number of child protection hotspots with some of the highest offence numbers in the state.
“This neglect is gob-smacking in light of the two family violence-related murders we have had so far this year.”
She welcomed Labor’s promise of a Royal Commission but said it was no substitute for urgent funding.
A spokeswoman for Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge said submissions would soon open for a further eight Services Connect areas.
She said the government was investing more than $95 million a year to change community attitudes and expand family violence prevention initiatives.
