Dawn Shelter furious as long-promised $6.5m redevelopment funding axed from NT budget

Funding for a long-promised DV shelter redevelopment has been axed by the NT government, drawing outrage from the service which says the ‘disgraceful’ decision risks women and children’s safety.

Funding for a long-promised domestic violence shelter redevelopment has been axed by the Northern Territory government, drawing outrage from the service that says the “disgraceful” decision risks women and children’s safety.

Dawn House Women’s Shelter expressed deep concern and disappointment at $6.5m in funding missing from this year’s budget, as it was forced to turn away hundreds of women seeking help each month.

First promised in 2021, the funding was to replace ageing crisis accommodation and expand capacity for women and children escaping domestic and family violence in Darwin.

Dawn House chief executive Ana Aitcheson. Picture: Supplied.

Dawn House chief executive Ana Aitcheson said she was blindsided by the sudden withdrawal of funds, having been in active discussions with the Infrastructure Department over the past year.

“Now we learn, not through a phone call or meeting, but during estimates, that the funding has been removed entirely,” she said.

“The women and children who come through our doors have already endured the unimaginable. To now be told that promised redevelopment funding has simply vanished from the books, without a single nail driven, is beyond frustrating – it’s disgraceful.”

The shelter provides more than 6500 crisis bed nights each year, and the relentless demand means Dawn House has to turn away up to 200 women and children reaching out for support every month.

“We are operating at capacity in facilities that desperately need repair and/or replacement,” Ms Aitcheson said.

“This was never a ‘nice to have’, it was essential infrastructure for the safety and dignity of women and children. This decision shows just how low a priority that has become.”

Minister Robyn Cahill. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

During estimates Domestic Violence Prevention Minister Robyn Cahill said she had met with Dawn House and was committed to helping them improve their infrastructure.

“The money was a program announced but not funded, that was the challenge,” she said.

“(The plan) is to continue to work with Dawn House to identify where we might be able to access funding to assist them with that project.”

Ms Cahill also promoted the record $36m annual funding being committed to tackle domestic violence in the Territory: “the most sustained investment the Territory has ever made in this area”.

“Our government’s commitment will support the sector to intervene earlier and address the root causes of domestic violence. This is also aligned with the recommendations of the recent coronial inquest into the (domestic violence) deaths of four Aboriginal women,” she said.

Ms Cahill defended accusations from the opposition that part of the $36m allocated to the Circuit Breaker program should have come from the youth justice budget – not domestic violence specific funds.

“The Coroner recommended that we needed to find a way to break the cycle, the way that we needed to get to kids to show them that domestic violence was not the answer,” Ms Cahill said.

“Circuit Breaker is working on fixing the kids – that is the connection.”

Originally published as Dawn Shelter furious as long-promised $6.5m redevelopment funding axed from NT budget