Victoria, NSW frustrated by federal funding cuts to domestic violence partnership

Sources in the NSW and Victorian governments have expressed frustration over the diversion of federal cash from a national partnership on domestic violence that will cut funding to the states by millions after a spate of femicides.

The $365.9 million National Partnership Agreement on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses was part of a bigger package announced in September in response to what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called a national crisis of gendered violence. It provides operational funding for the states and territories to direct to local services.

Analysis by this masthead found that although the Commonwealth has increased funding to other domestic violence initiatives, it will put on average $5.4 million less per year into the next five-year partnership – equivalent to a 7 per cent drop, despite indexation – when it takes effect on July 1.

Despite federal funding increasing with indexation over the coming five years, the annual average investment over the life of the partnership is still $1.7 million lower for NSW and $1.25 million lower for Victoria compared to the former two-year deal.

For the first year of the new deal, this amounts to a $3 million drop for NSW and a $2 million drop for Victoria compared to the annual average under the previous two-year deal that wraps up on June 30.

Federal commitments are matched by each state and territory.

Negotiations for the new partnership began back in September. But NSW and Victoria only signed up in late March, days before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the federal election and the Commonwealth entered caretaker mode. All other jurisdictions had signed up weeks earlier, in February and early March.

NSW Premier Chris Minns’ office declined to comment. But sources with knowledge of the negotiations said that although the NSW government was frustrated by the decision, there would be no cuts to services as a result of the shortfall.

Minns last year released a package of spending reforms following a series of high-profile domestic violence-related deaths.

The Victorian government, which has its own set of budget difficulties, also baulked at the agreement, according to two sources familiar with negotiations but unable to speak publicly. They felt Victoria was worse off for independently investing more than other states in previous years, now that the Commonwealth had decided to focus matched funding on new initiatives.

Victoria is grappling with possible service cuts in its May 20 budget because of the funding gap.

The state’s 24/7 family violence response agency, Safe Steps, has been expanding its successful sanctuary model to stop the reliance on motels for crisis accommodation. Commonwealth grant money under the Safe Places Inclusion Round will add 28 apartments at one of Safe Steps’ sites.

Two sources said the Commonwealth expected the state to provide the $3.9 million operational funding for the workers and wraparound services to run the expanded sanctuary accommodation.

But funding from the national partnership already supports existing family violence services in Victoria, and the state now has less to play with while also being expected to fund the operation of the extra Safe Steps beds.

Safe Steps chief executive Dr Chelsea Tobin said the sanctuary model – with high security, essential services and support – saved and changed lives and was cheaper to deliver. The model began with a successful trial funded by the state.

“We have requested operational funding from the state government to deliver these expanded services,” Tobin confirmed. “We hope to see this funding provided in the upcoming state budget.”

Otherwise, the extra beds could sit empty.

Victorian Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Natalie Hutchins said the government had invested more than any other state or territory in response to family violence.

“When women are still dying at the hands of men, we must do more – that’s why we are changing laws, changing culture and delivering additional support for victim-survivors of family violence,” Hutchins said in a statement.

“The federal government’s investment through the National Partnership Agreement is critical in this work, helping deliver frontline services and programs which keep women safe.”

Federal Labor argued the partnership agreement was delivered in tandem with increased support for other measures, like 500 frontline workers, and that total funding was consistent.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the Albanese government had made ending family, domestic and sexual violence a national priority.

“Our government has invested record funding of more than $4 billion in women’s safety, which has boosted and secured frontline services, delivered financial and housing support for women escaping violence, and made much-needed legislative changes to ensure the safety of victim-survivors, particularly for children,” Rishworth said.

“Our renewed, five-year National Partnership Agreement on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses provides longer-term funding certainty for frontline services.”

The partnership agreement was front-loaded in the first two-year deal, from 2021-23, to address gaps and demand following COVID-19.

Federal Labor also committed $3.9 billion over five years under the National Legal Assistance Partnership for community legal services, up from $2 billion under the previous deal, to bolster funding for family violence legal services.

The Commonwealth’s Leaving Violence Program, which provides up to $5000 in cash and goods for people fleeing family violence, was made permanent through a $952.2 million investment over five years.

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