An elected Dutton Coalition Government will commit an additional $90 million to further address family and domestic violence across Australia.
This investment recognises the complexities of family and domestic violence, and that more action is needed to build on the continued implementation of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032 (National Plan).
An elected Dutton Coalition Government will put renewed focus on prevention, early intervention and crisis response. We will:
- Implement a National Domestic Violence Register, allowing police across Australia and relevant agencies to access and share information about a person’s previous family violence convictions to better manage risk and avoid future offending.
- Take strong action against perpetrators of family and domestic violence through specialist early and behavioural intervention programs and tougher monitoring measures.
- Establish new domestic violence offences by making it a crime to use mobile phone and computer networks to cause an intimate partner or family member to fear for their personal safety, to track them using spyware or engage in coercive behaviours, and ensure tough bail laws apply to these new offences.
- Develop uniform national knife laws with the states and territories.
- Lift the threshold for fast-track property settlements in the family law courts, so that separating couples with an asset pool of up to $1.5 million can resolve matters that do not involve children quickly and fairly.
- Improve online safety for women and children.
- Expand the Safe Places Emergency Accommodation Program to assist more victim-survivors and their families escaping violence.
- Support women and children fleeing domestic violence with emergency payments through the Leaving Violence Program.
- Increase crisis helpline support so victim-survivors fleeing family and domestic violence have their calls answered and get the immediate assistance they require.
- Support community organisations to deliver domestic violence awareness training.
- Recycle mobile phones so victim survivors cannot be tracked, harassed or further abused.
- Improve child safety and protection and ensure the delivery of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032.
- Launch a Royal Commission into Sexual Abuse in Indigenous communities to address these horrific crimes and ensure children are safe and their childhood protected.
- Strengthen Commonwealth taxation, welfare and superannuation systems where practicable to eradicate financial abuse, coercive control and unfair outcomes following family and domestic violence.
The need for evidence-based, effective prevention and early intervention is critical to protect Australians, prevent them becoming victim-survivors and taking the pressure off an overwhelmed frontline sector.
These policies build on the Coalition’s record and previous policy commitments, including having invested $3.5 billion in women’s safety in government, doubling funding to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, and extending our plan allowing Australians to access up to $50,000 of their super so that older women and women fleeing violence can get help to buy a home and restart their lives.
The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Peter Dutton MP said this announcement highlighted his personal commitment to address family and domestic violence in Australia.
“As a former police officer who attended numerous domestic violence call-outs, I know the lifelong impact of these horrific crimes. A Government I lead will be focussed on delivering real change so that families, women and children are safer and we end family and domestic violence,” Mr Dutton said.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Women, the Hon Sussan Ley MP, said the Coalition’s comprehensive approach will stand in stark contrast to that of the Albanese Labor Government, which is not on track, with promises it made remaining undelivered.
“We have seen a lack of urgency in addressing family and domestic violence by the Labor Government. As a Coalition, we know violence can be at the end of a chain of events across someone’s life. And we know that with the right decisions and the right interventions we can break the cycle and save victim-survivors not only from the most extreme end of violence, but also from disrespectful behaviour and coercion. If we get this right our society will be a safer, happier and healthier place.”
Shadow Attorney-General, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash said the Coalition is committed to significant legal reforms that will deliver real change.
“This comprehensive plan builds on our record of taking practical action to tackle the scourge of family and domestic violence in Australia. This is about providing support every step of the way to ensure a better future for all Australians.”
Shadow Minister for Child Protection and the Prevention of Family Violence, Senator Kerrynne Liddle said: “Early intervention to keep families safe is paramount if we are to stop escalation to harm, injury and crisis.
“That means we must also give attention to the drivers of violence such as addiction. Labor’s removal of the Cashless Debit Card and allowing alcohol restrictions in the Northern Territory to lift was reckless and did so much harm. Indigenous communities, where women are about 32% more likely to experience abuse, must not be exposed to further harm. By addressing violence early, child protection issues are reduced, as is mental ill-health and the impact on families and communities.”
Only a Dutton Coalition Government will comprehensively address family and domestic violence to improve women’s and children’s safety.
https://www.liberal.org.au/policy/our-plan-to-address-family-and-domestic-violence