A dramatic increase in calls to 1800 RESPECT from Australians seeking help with domestic violence shows the urgent need to raise rates of income support and lift Australians out of poverty.
Leaving a violent relationship requires financial security, and we cannot end violence against women without addressing poverty.
As Sex Discrimination Commissioner Anna Cody has said: "Raising JobSeeker and related payments to liveable levels in the federal budget would help lift about half a million women out of poverty. Bolstering women's economic security is crucial to giving them the means to leave and remain free of violence."
The Greens welcome the increase in funding to 1800 RESPECT and have called for more, noting that current federal funding calls from the women's safety sector for $1 billion annually in funding are not being met, leaving frontline family and domestic violence services with no choice but to turn away victims and survivors.
As stated by Senator Penny Allman-Payne, Greens Spokesperson for Social Services:
"It's no coincidence that demand for domestic violence services is rising at the same time as rates of poverty in this country. It's very difficult to leave a violent relationship, to support young children, and to recover and rebuild your life if you don't have economic security."
"One in seven Australians are now living in poverty, up from one in eight just four years ago."
"We will never end violence against women while dismal rates of JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and other payments are trapping people in poverty and denying women the power to leave violent relationships."
"Is it any wonder many women feel trapped in abusive relationships when less than 1% of all rental properties are affordable for a person on income support?"
"Victims and survivors of domestic violence are being turned away from frontline services because demand for those services keeps growing."
"At least 43 women have lost their lives already this year to family and domestic violence, and if Labor wants to stop that number from rising the first task is to make sure no woman is ever forced to choose between poverty and family violence."
