March 23, 2015
Front-line domestic violence support services will continue to be funded after the Coalition Government today extended the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) until 2017.
Federal Member for Gippsland has welcomed the announcement by Social Services Minister Scott Morrison that priority will be given to services focusing on women and children experiencing domestic violence, and homeless youth under 18.
“While we already know that Gippsland experiences higher-than-average rates per capita of domestic violence, we also know that many cases still go unreported,” Mr Chester said.
“It is important that we continue to provide funding certainty to front-line services who can reach out to victims of domestic violence and provide refuge from dangerous situations.
“Addressing domestic violence is everyone’s problem and we must take every opportunity to send the message to victims that they will be protected.”
A total of $230 million will be directed to domestic violence and youth homelessness programs under the arrangement.
The Federal Government provides funding to the state and territory governments, who then decide where to target the funding.
For this reason, Mr Chester was critical of a Victorian Government media release issued in February that said funding to the Orana Gunyah refuge in Morwell was to be “cut”.
The Media Release included the headline “Abbott Cuts to Hit Morwell Refuge”, before any decision on NPAH funding had been reached.
“No funding had been cut. In fact, the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd federal government didn’t make any provision for Commonwealth funding for NPAH beyond June 30 2014 and the Coalition extended it to June 2015,” Mr Chester said.
“Today’s announcement will see vital funding continued, but with a strong focus on front-line services to address domestic violence.
“We’ve held up our end of the bargain. It is now up to the Victorian Government to guarantee that it will direct the NPAH funding to where it is needed most.”