Govt reveals details of records $36m DV spend: Almost $18m for new programs

The Northern Territory Government pledge of record funding to tackle domestic violence, sees almost $18 million for the delivery of new programs.

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The Northern Territory Government pledge of record funding to tackle domestic violence, sees almost $18 million for the delivery of new programs.

A $36m ongoing annual budget has been allocated to address the problem.

Ahead of the election Country Liberals pledged $180m for frontline domestic violence services ahead of the election – $36m a year over the next five years.

The new programs will see $6.26 million for Co-responder early intervention with NT Police;

Circuit Breaker - $6.55 million for the Circuit Breaker program; $1.8 million for Offender programs in prison; $1.5 million for DFSV resource centre; $500,000 for Remote safe houses;

$400,000 for Specialist health response; $250,000 for Community innovation activities.

A further $27 million will be spent on expanded programs.

These include Specialist services funding for integrated response ($5.2 million); Programs in prison for people committing DFSV ($1.9 million); Family Safety framework ($1.57 million);

Specialist services funding for integrated response ($5.2 million) and specialist DFV courts ($1.07 million).

Prevention of Domestic Violence Minister Robyn Cahill said the funding will ensure those impacted by DFSV across the Territory would be better supported.

She said it would also be targeted to earlier intervention and help address the root causes of such offending.

Domestic Violence Prevention Minister Robyn Cahill . Picture: Zizi Averill

Ms Cahill said domestic violence assaults increased 81 per cent across the Territory under the previous Labor government.

“We need to make sure these programs are as effective as they can be with real outcomes,” said Ms Cahill.

“An example of achieving real outcomes, the Circuit Breaker program has been a huge success and has been rolled out across the Territory, with funding of $6.5m in the budget and ongoing future years.

“The Finocchiaro CLP Government is working with the sector to identify what works and what doesn’t, so we can focus service delivery where it is most needed, at the same time addressing the root causes of the scourge that is domestic family and sexual violence.

“The first step is to continue existing frontline services due to end in June 2025 to June 2026 under the previous Budget, providing those services with certainty while the final implementation phase of the Domestic, family and sexual violence reduction framework 2018 to 2028 is progressed.”

Ms Cahill said the funding is focused on taking action and achieving tangible outcomes and making the Territory a safer place for our community, especially women and children.

The $36 million a year increase will result in record ongoing funding for DFSV, well beyond the original time-limited commitment of $180 million over five years until 2030.

Funding for ongoing programs will be: Programs in community settings for people committing DFSV ($3.4 million); Whole of government policy and co-ordination ($2.57 million); Primary prevention grant program ($1.4 million); Specialist witness support ($850,000); Counselling for women prisoners ($500,000); Risk assessment by universal services ($250,000)

Originally published as Govt reveals details of records $36m DV spend: Almost $18m for new programs