New DV shelter a ‘band aid’

THE Gold Coast will get one of two new domestic and family violence shelters funded in the State Budget.

Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Minister Shannon Fentiman made the announcement on a visit to the Coast yesterday after the Government committed $6.8 million in funding for the projects.

Opposition frontbencher Ros Bates described the funding announcement as “too little too late” and was supported by Natalie Hinton, the mother of Tara Brown, who was killed by her estranged boyfriend Lionel Patea.

Ms Fentiman told the Bulletin: “Police statistics tell us that across the Gold Coast in the last 12 months there has been an increase in assaults of 27 per cent and an increase in breaches of DV Orders of 36 per cent.

“It is a brave decision women make when they leave a violent relationship and it is vitally important that we have services ready to help them when they do.”

Ms Fentiman said shelters established in Brisbane and Townsville had helped hundreds of women find safety.

Ms Bates, the opposition spokesperson for prevention of domestic violence, said thousands of domestic violence victims had escaped violent homes in the past two and half years.

“We have local private shelters standing ready to help victims but have been shut out by Labor,” she said.

“One extra shelter to deal with the explosion in DV over last 12 months is a band aid on an axe wound.

“On the Gold Coast the statistics are sobering with 2,278 domestic violence breaches in just 10 months. That’s 228 a month.”