State government tight-lipped on how it will fund initiatives preventing violence against women

The state government has remained tight-lipped about how it will fund initiatives preventing violence against women amid a recent spate of alleged violent deaths at the hands of men.

The state government has remained tight-lipped about how it will fund initiatives preventing Victorian women being killed or abused amid a recent spate of alleged violent deaths at the hands of men.

Overall, $211m has been allocated to deal with sexual and family violence over the next year, a $94m boost on the $117m allocated last year.

But dedicated plans for preventing violence against women and stamping out toxic masculinity are not yet clear.

It is understood further announcements about a women’s safety package and targeted prevention measures are expected within the coming weeks.

So far, a $31m lump sum has been earmarked for preventing family violence this year.

$42m will go to more closely tracking alleged family violence perpetrators and $38m for specialist support and temporary visas for victims fleeing violent situations.

Thousands gathered outside the State Library for the national rally against gender based violence. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

An additional $9.2m will go to expanding the number of staff in Victoria’s family violence workforce, while $24m has been allotted to boost a central system that allows government departments to share information with one another about domestic violence cases.

$30m will go towards emergency accommodation for those fleeing violence.

$39m will continue the Respectful Relationships program, which teaches students about respect and healthy attitudes towards relationships, in public high schools.

Opposition Family Violence Prevention Minister Cindy McLeish said the school-based program was one example of a measure that curbed toxic attitudes toward women in public schools before they manifested through violence.

But she said in the wake of the Yarra Valley Grammar scandal in which male students branded female classmates as “unrapeable”, a more even approach to preventive measures and support services was needed.

“It’s not the whole picture. At the end of the day, we’re not making inroads, so we do need to have a look at the (funding) ratio,” she said.

Protesters held up signs of women who have been killed. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Safe and Equal policy executive director Louise Simms said the body received another two years’ worth of funding on Tuesday, but it did not provide long-term security to keep skilled staff in the workforce or to implement early intervention long-term.

“That’s something we’re hoping we’ll see addressed in any announcements that might be forthcoming, as well as investment into expanding and better understanding early intervention approaches,” she said. “It is about supporting people on long term recovery and identifying violence and abuse earlier and earlier and responding to those before they reach a crisis point”.

The calls for more targeted prevention measures come amid a spate of violent killings in Victoria.

On April 23, acquitted child killer John Torney allegedly assaulted Emma Bates before she died in her Cobram home.

Earlier in April, Hannah McGuire was allegedly killed then set on fire inside her car at Scarsdale by her former partner Lachlan Young.

Patrick Stephenson, 22, has been charged with murdering missing Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy, who disappeared on February 4.

There were 93,125 recorded family violence incidents in the 2022-23 financial year.

That figure is expected to balloon again for the last financial year to 95,600.

Prevention of Family Violence Minister Vicki Ward said: “We know that there is so much more to do. We want a Victoria that is free from family violence”.