Media Release: 22 May 2003

Federal government priorities skewed on violence

With reports of family violence increasing across the Western Region and statewide, Women's Health West condemns the recently-revealed shift of $10.1M in federal funding from women's support programs to the Howard government's anti-terror media campaign.

The funding reallocation emerged in the government's budget papers, as revealed this week by federal member for Gellibrand and shadow Minister for Women Nicola Roxon. It has since been widely condemned by family violence and women's services.

"This is an outrageous reallocation of desperately-needed funds," says Women's Health West Chair Sue Finucane. "It is indicative of the federal government's skewed priorities. They talk about the safety of the Australian community, yet underspend on preventing family violence - the greatest threat by far to the safety of Australian women and children."

"Statistically we know that someone is much more likely to be hurt in their home by someone they know than by a stranger," says Ms Finucane. "By shifting the focus to the threat of international terrorism, the government is obscuring the real and daily source of violence and misery in the lives of too many Australian women and children. Eighty percent of assaults and almost 90 percent of murders are committed by someone known to the victim. We need immediate action on family violence, not fridge magnets and fear campaigns."

The 1996 ABS Women's Safety Survey found that one in ten women will experience violence perpetrated by an adult family member in the home. According to data collected by Victoria police, reports of family violence in the Western Region have risen by 10.3 percent in the year to June 2001, with 2,725 incidents reported. Statewide the increase was 10.3 percent, with a total of 21,618 incidents. The data also showed that in those incidents which came to court, 80 percent of defendants statewide and 83 percent in the Western region were male.

"These police statistics are bad enough, yet family violence support workers are telling us that less than half the incidents they hear about are ever reported to the police," says Ms Finucane. "Family violence is a huge and hidden problem. Women's Health West is acutely aware that crisis services on the ground are already struggling to meet overwhelming demand."

"Federal funding has historically been directed at projects to improve services, pilot innovative approaches, and provide public education and early intervention programs. We can't afford to lose funding that gives us a hope of tackling the underlying causes of family violence, in addition to providing crisis support to the thousands of women and children who survive it every year."

FIND OUT MORE about support available to women and children affected by family violence.

MEDIA CONTACT

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact our Chief Executive Officer Melissa Afentoulis or our Communications Officer on 9689 9588 or via email.