Federal budget 2020: Domestic violence funding and workplace harassment addressed
The Government is set to tackle sexual harassment in Australian workplaces, but failed to commit additional funding to domestic violence services, despite seeing a tragic COVID-19 spike.
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Sexual harassment at work will be tackled with taxpayer spending on a new government agency.
The new Respect@Work Council will “address and prevent workplace sexual harassment in Australia’’.
Minister for Women Marise Payne said sexual harassment was keeping women out of industries dominated by blokes.
“Sexual harassment is a barrier to women’s workforce participation, particularly for women working in male-dominated fields,’’ Ms Payne said.
“The (federal) government is committed to eradicating it from Australian workplaces.
“This measure will provide funding for new tools and training to support workers and employers to create safe workplaces for everyone’’.
The Federal Government spent $150 million extra on domestic violence prevention at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Tuesday’s federal budget did not provide any additional funding.
The sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service provided through 1800RESPECT will be given extra funding for “COVID-specific advertising over the Christmas period’’. But the Budget papers do not show how much will be spent, as the contract will be put to tender.
Ms Payne said the federal government had spent more than $1 billion to prevent and respond to violence against women and their children since 2013.
“When women feel safe and valued, they are able to participate fully in civic, social and economic life,’’ she said.
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Domestic violence has soared during the COVID-19 pandemic, with hospitals reporting more severe injuries in women and children by partners affected by drugs, alcohol and/or financial stress.
Women’s Legal Services Australia, which is turning away two in every five women seeking urgent help, had asked for an extra $25 million a year to hire more lawyers, social workers and financial counsellors.
And calls to Kids Helpline requiring police or social worker intervention have soared by one-third this year.
The Budget provides an extra $40 million over the next three years for early intervention and prevention support to at-risk children and families with complex needs.
Problem gambling will be tackled through a $44 million scheme that funds specialist financial counsellors.
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Originally published as Federal budget 2020: Domestic violence funding and workplace harassment addressed