Open letter to PM Turnbull: don't leave women in danger
Dear Prime Minister Turnbull,
Right now, as you make your first Prime Ministerial decisions, women in Australia are being abused and murdered by men in shocking numbers. As you set your priorities we urge you not to ignore the family and domestic violence epidemic devastating our nation.
Alarmingly, inadequate federal funding means that this year we expect thousands of brave women attempting to escape their abusers will be left without access to services that should help keep them safe.
We, the undersigned, urge you to immediately commit the dedicated, secure and ongoing federal funding needed to:
- Ensure everyone reaching out for help to escape abuse can get it. That means adequately resourcing: crisis and transitional accommodation, family and domestic violence outreach services, legal assistance services, Family Violence Prevention Legal Services, family and relationship services, safe at home programs, sexual assault services and targeted services for marginalised communities;
- Expand capacity for evidence-based perpetrator interventions like Men’s Behaviour Change programs; and
- Guarantee long-term support for the primary prevention programs needed to address the underlying drivers of violence.
Importantly, we urge you to make addressing gender inequality a core focus of your Government – as evidence tells us Australian women and families will continue to face violence until equality is achieved.
Yours in anticipation,
Rosie Batty, Domestic Violence Victoria, Domestic Violence NSW ...