$1.1bn for domestic violence support
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
WOMEN fleeing domestic violence will get $5000 in support to help them leave as part of a $1.1bn package to support victims of harassment and abuse survivors.
Job security and opportunities to upskill in critical areas like science, maths and technology, as well as making it more affordable for women to return to work and driving down the gender pay gap were central features of the Morrison government’s first ever Women’s Budget Statement released alongside the Budget.
It comes just weeks after the deaths of Gold Coast women Kelly Wilkinson (pictured) and Lordy Ramadan.
In recognition of the financial barriers that can stop women leaving violent home environments, the government has committed $164.8m to establish a twoyear trial for Escaping Violence Payments, which would give women up to $1500 in immediate cash and a further $3500 in the form of direct payment of rental bonds, school fees and furniture.
Young girls will also be better protected online with $26.2m over four years to combat predatory behaviour on the internet, including developing software to detect image-based abuse.
A further $4.9m will be spent on expanding support for men “at risk” of perpetrating violence against women. The existing Safe Places emergency accommodation program received a $12.6m boost, and an additional $26m was allocated to family violence prevention legal services around the country to improve services for Indigenous women.
Included in the measures “for women” was the previously announced $1.7bn to reduce childcare costs for second and subsequent children under five and remove the cap on subsidies. About $351.6m was allocated for women’s health programs.