Stop cuts to this vital service for women affected by family violence

VICTORY! After months of campaigning by Fair Agenda members, in partnership with Community legal workers, domestic violence groups, survivor advocates and others - the Turnbull Government announced on the 24th April a full reversal to the three years of scheduled cuts to Community Legal Centres! 

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Community Legal Centres are a critical, potentially life-saving, service for many women trying to escape an abusive partner. 

In order to escape, many women will first need to know how they can access shared funds or property, if they'll be able to keep their children safe, and if they'll be able to untangle themselves from any financial abuse and debt that might have been used to try and trap them.

Right now, family violence and family law are the two biggest areas of work for Community Legal Centres in Australia. And inadequate funding is already limiting their work so much that Centres are forced to turn away 160,000 people a year - many of them women trying to escape violence. 

Now the Government is about to make things even worse. The Turnbull Government has just confirmed that from 1 July 2017 it plans to cut a whopping 30% of Community Legal Centres' funding. These cuts will cripple Community Legal Centres, and leave thousands more women each year without this essential lifeline they need to escape family violence.

Will you sign and share the petition against the cuts, and help stop this cruel cut to this vital community service? 

*If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, you can call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 for 24/7 support. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

Find out more (click to view)

Australia is in the midst of a family violence crisis. The statistics are stark. 81,900 women say they have wanted to escape their current violent partner, but never have. Further 1 in 12 women have indicated they have been forced to return to their abusive partner because they had nowhere else to go. At the same time, the funding for services women need to live free from danger are being cut by governments; leaving thousands of women in danger. 

Community Legal Centres:

  • name the top two areas of work as family law and family-violence related matters
  • are currently forced to turn away 160,000 people annually because of under-funding (including but not limited to those affected by family violence)
  • are facing cuts of $12.1 million (30% of funding) due to take effect from 1 July 2017
  • Actually need an *extra* $14.4 million to meet existing demand 

Can you join the campaign to reverse these cuts, and fully fund, Community Legal Centres?

-References-

"This budget is devastating and dangerous for women experiencing family violence", Mamamia, 4 May 2016. 
"Thousands of women in danger" without billions more in funding to tackle domestic violence, advocates say, BuzzFeed News, 19 May 2016.

Help us get to 7,500 signatures

5,493 SIGNATURES

Dear Malcolm Turnbull and the Federal Government,

We are calling on you to reverse your devastating funding cuts to Community Legal Centres, and commit to fully funding them instead, so that no more women in Australia are left unable to escape from family violence.

Signed,

Fair Agenda will email petition signers from time to time with important updates

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Latest activity

Chelsea , 3159  /  signed 2016-12-21 23:20:27 +1100
Margaret , 3146  /  signed 2016-12-21 23:16:21 +1100
Louise , 5166  /  signed 2016-12-21 23:13:46 +1100
"Because Domestic Violence has badly affected mine & my family’s lives."
Leanne , 6082  /  signed 2016-12-21 23:12:52 +1100
"No woman should have to endure this never lone not be supported!"
Richard , 5045  /  signed 2016-12-21 23:11:17 +1100
"This issue is surely one of the most critical we face"
Rachael , 2000  /  signed 2016-12-21 23:10:36 +1100
Trish , 2323  /  signed 2016-12-21 23:08:32 +1100
Sara , 2068  /  signed 2016-12-21 23:07:37 +1100
Leonie , 2323  /  signed 2016-12-21 23:02:51 +1100
"The legal system is broken, lawyers make money and women die waiting, scary but so very true. I have been seperated for twelve months and I am still not free. I see the anger in my ex husbands eyes clentched fists the anger is worse not better. Lawyers are a business they want to make money they are in it for the fight they make the fight if there was non .Who goes up against a lawyer who questions them? There has been a hold up with my divorce my lawyer told me it was him, I am not sure who to believe. I was with him it was like a jail the self hatred torturous agony of a loveless relationship where one person is happy to live that way the other wants to escape but is trapped emotional abuse. so hard to escape from. One thing I am sure of is that people need help fast the only way is out this is so exhausting so very confusing. I have ended up having a breakdown due to the stress of this situation. The AVO is running out and this scares the shit out of me more so after seeing the anger that he still has. Please help us please no more deaths….."
John , 4208  /  signed 2016-12-21 22:56:24 +1100
"Because not enough is being done to help victims and families from family violence.
I have heard of far too many suffering and dying at the hands of thei perpetrators.
I know one family who have been completely devastated by the loss of their daughter, murdered by her ex partner, whom she had been trying to help with a drug addiction. Even after much evidence and admissions by the perpetrator of violence to his victim. He was in the possession of a loaded gun and very sadly he shot her. He only got charged with manslaughter whe the verdict should have been murdr. He received only 6yrs for the crime with a possible release after serving 50% of his sentence.
The justice system weak, a joke and a sham and must be fixed."
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