Budget 2023 continues the Territory Labor Government's hard work of delivering generational change and safer communities for women and children by investing an additional $20 million over two years in Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence (DFSV).
This funding is part of the second phase of the NT Government's 10-year Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Reduction Framework and will support Action Plan 2, which is due for release in July 2023.
The investment covers initiatives aimed to prevent DFSV including reforms in health, justice, policing, support for people who are using violence to change behaviour, and reducing the impacts of violence on victim survivors, including children. We will also strengthen our multi-agency coordinated response.
This second stage of reforms builds on the $54.7 million invested by the Government under Action Plan 1.
These reforms improved our efforts in primary prevention, response services for women and children, men's behaviour change programs and risk assessment training.
The Territory Labor Government has heard the calls for more investment and more coordination. We formed a multi-agency coordinated approach through the DFSV-Interagency Co-ordination Reform Office (ICRO) to collaborate, share responsibility, and give this issue the attention it deserves.
The ICRO have worked closely with the DFSV sector, with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and across Government to develop Action Plan 2. We will continue to work with our partners in the sector on the commissioning of the funding under Action Plan 2.
We are also working closely with our Commonwealth colleagues and we look forward to the release of the national action plan and the First Nations Action Plans in August 2023.
Addressing DFSV requires long term commitment and generational change. DFSV is preventable when we work together, and put the safety of women and children at the centre.
Quotes attributed to the Minister for Territory Families, Kate Worden:
"The rates of domestic violence in the Territory remains unacceptably high and the Territory Labor Government is investing in programs that will create meaningful long term change.
"These programs address the root causes of domestic, family and sexual violence and offer assistance to victims of abuse. We will continue to work with service providers to discuss how programs can be improved.
"Addressing domestic, family and sexual violence is a conversation all Territorians need to have if we are to eliminate this abhorrent behaviour from our society."
Northern Territory Government
