Vulnerable women and children in Melbourne’s western suburbs have been “completely ignored” by last week’s federal budget, Women’s Health West contends.
The Footscray-based service provider is facing unprecedented pressure to meet a growing demand for help from women facing family violence, receiving 6893 police referrals in the 10 months since July – well above the 6209 referrals in the prior 12 months and almost 10 times the 708 referrals received in 2006-07.
Chief executive Dr Robyn Gregory said the Abbott government’s failure to provide any significant funding to tackle family violence flew in the face of its rhetoric on the issue.
She also criticised the government’s attacks on childcare support and paid parental leave.
“This budget has completely ignored women,” Dr Gregory said.
“It’s really disappointing to a see a budget that is a bit of a reverse Robin Hood.”
Dr Gregory said that despite the federal government’s stated commitment to reducing violence against women in the home, frontline services have undergone “devastating cuts” that put women at risk.
She said the previously announced $16.7 million allocated to a family violence awareness campaign would be far better spent on programs by primary providers.
“We have got strategies we can roll out but we need the funds to do it,” she said. “The government is spending $1.2 billion on terror and $16 million on violence in the home.”
Dr Gregory said women are also bearing the brunt of policies, such as a reduction in the number of childcare hours for single mothers and the government’s sudden reversal on paid parental leave – until recently a signature policy but now a “fraud” whereby women are “double dipping” by receiving a government top-up to their workplace entitlements.
The federal government on Sunday announced $4 million for the 1800RESPECT hotline supporting women in need with telephone and online counselling services.
Last year the hotline responded to 54,853 contacts but left 18,631 unanswered.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said other new measures may be adopted to tackle family violence.
“We want to look at really lifting our game when it comes to dealing with the scourge of domestic violence,” Mr Abbott said.
“At least one woman a week is dead as a result of violence at the hand of a partner or ex-partner.”
