Will Hodgman is failing victims of family violence by refusing to commit an additional one million dollars to the Family Violence Counselling and Support Service to meet current demand.
The service is Tasmania's first responders for victims of family violence and is resourced to take 1,800 referrals a year, but in the last 12 months, it received 6,484 referrals. Each of these family violence first responders have a case load of 600 each.
Shadow Minister for Women, Equality and Prevention of Family Violence, Michelle O'Byrne, said in the face of horrific statistics, Will Hodgman is failing to act.
"On the November long weekend, staff dealt with 67 reported cases of family violence in the North, which included six incidences of strangulation, multiple threats to kill partners or children, including a two year old and three attacks on pregnant women," Ms O'Byrne said.
"Other cases included use of knives and other weapons, forced entries including physical assault, theft and property damage including a car set on fire.
"120 children were present during these attacks and we can only imagine what impact this will have on their young lives.
"As Premier, Will Hodgman can assist Tasmanians impacted by family violence by supporting our struggling family violence first responders.
"Instead, today in Parliament he showed he simply doesn't care and failed to commit to providing the additional one million dollars required by the Family Violence Counselling and Support Service to keep up with demand."
Michelle O'Byrne MP
Shadow Minister for Women, Equality and Prevention of Family Violence
