$328m to hold off DV threat

SCHOOL kids will be taught how not to become perpetrators or victims of domestic violence and family courts will tip off agencies to help women at risk under a multimilliondollar attack on the scourge.

The Morrison Government will today unveil the biggest ever financial contribution to beat domestic violence – a $328 million package that focuses on prevention, identification, rescue and recovery.

The announcement and theme of “keeping families safe” is a pillar of Scott Morrison’s prime ministership, with a focus on trying to ensure that a child born today grows up escaping the insidious crime.

Under the Fourth Action Plan, new emergency accommodation will be built, schools will be targeted to teach kids about healthy relationships and specialised family violence services will be delivered.

A university module will also be developed to enable health workers to recognise and respond to domestic violence, and almost $11 million will be spent to ensure the family court system shares information with child protection and other agencies to respond to women at risk.

The pre-Budget announcement includes $82 million to improve frontline services, $78 million to build or expand safe places, $68 million for prevention strategies; $64 million for a help line and $35 million specifically for indigenous Australians.

“To hear the accounts of survivors and see the statistics, it’s just not good enough,’’ Mr Morrison said.

“To stop violence against women, we need to counter the culture of disrespect towards women.”