Australian Gov't Commits Major Funding Package To Combat Domestic Violence

CANBERRA, Sept 6 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Australia's federal, state and territory governments have agreed to a new major funding package to prevent domestic violence and support victims.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday announced 4.7 billion Australian dollars (US$3.1 billion) in funding for a five-year plan to combat domestic and gendered violence after meeting with state and territory leaders in Canberra.

"We know that a nationally coordinated approach is required to address this national crisis," he told reporters after the meeting, said Xinhua.

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"We must act to ensure women are safe. These horrific and disturbing deaths and vile violence must be prevented."

Of the funding, 3.9 billion AUD (US$2.6 billion) will come from the federal government, with the rest to be contributed by the states and territories.

Albanese said the plan would focus on four areas: supporting frontline services, preventing perpetrators from escalating their violence, addressing the impact of alcohol on violence and providing more support for young victims.

According to the advocacy group Destroy the Joint, 47 women have been killed violently in Australia since the start of 2024.

The government commissioned an expert-led Rapid Review of Prevention Approaches after a series of high-profile incidents triggered nationwide protests in April and May.

The report, which was released in August, said that the government must treat domestic violence as a national emergency and called for federal, state and territory leaders to pull every available lever.

It found that the government has chronically underfunded domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV) services, leaving them crippled by critical staffing shortages.

The new five-year package includes 800 million AUD (US$538.5 million) to increase funding for legal aid services and funding for innovative approaches to identify and respond to high-risk perpetrators and stop violence from escalating.

Addressing the National Press Club late in August, the government's DFSV Commissioner, Micaela Cronin, called for domestic violence to be taken as seriously as terrorism.

Each state and territory also on Friday committed to review their current alcohol laws and how they impact family and domestic violence.

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA