16 Days in WA: Huge funding boost to combat family violence but minister won’t reveal deadline for new laws

An $86 million funding boost to combat family violence has been welcomed by survivors, but the State Government is under pressure to set a target date for coercive control laws. Emotional, financial and verbal abuse to control behaviour has been criminalised in New South Wales and Queensland this year, with the Cook Government promising to follow suit. An education campaign was launched in October, but Prevention of Family Violence Minister Sabine Winton says legislation cannot be rushed. “If I give that answer then the next thing you’ll say is why haven’t you done it,” she said. “I’m not going to play politics, my focus is on making sure we keep victim survivors safe and my focus is on doing it in a staged way that’s backed by experts.” Victim survivor and mother of four Roia Atmar called for the Government to act as soon as possible, after receiving a standing ovation from the Premier and Ministers at a 16 Days in WA breakfast. “I think it should have been criminalised years ago, but I understand where they’re coming from,” she said. “It is something hard for a lot of people to understand, but as long as we share that information, we provide knowledge and we let them know what coercive control is. “The more we do that, the sooner hopefully people realise it... so it should have been a long time ago but I guess any time is better than never.” She welcomed an $86 million funding boost to combat family and domestic violence, that was announced by Premier Roger Cook to mark the 16 Days in WA campaign and the theme to “play your part”. “It just lights up my heart, because as community we can do changes but everything needs funding,” Ms Atmar said. The funding includes $41 million for GPS tracking and enforcement of tougher laws to target repeat offenders, $19 million to boost capacity of refuges for women and children and $7.3 million for a pilot therapeutic program for children. Minister Winton said children are often the forgotten victims. “Our Government recognises that growing up in a household where violence is occurring can have a lasting impact on children,” she said. “I’m passionate about recognising children as victim survivors in their own right and often when I visited refuges I spoke with adult victim survivors who tell me they remember having been in the refuge when they were children... “Specialist therapeutic supports for children can help break that cycle.” Liberal Leader Libby Mettam accused the Government of being too slow to act. “While the Cook Government has dithered and deflected over coercive control laws, WA has become the most dangerous state in Australia to be a woman,” she said. “While the Cook Labor Government wasted precious parliamentary time passing electoral laws to protect their own name, more and more women are left at the mercy of the scourge of family and domestic violence.” It’s estimated 305,000 women in WA have experienced physical, emotional or economic abuse by a cohabiting partner. Family violence offences have surged 45 per cent in the past five years, but Mr Cook said on Monday that he’s confident the “dial is shifting” and community attitudes have improved. “It’s easy to look at the current crime statistics with despair, to look at an upward trending graph and wonder if we will ever get on top of it. “The number of family and related offences are double what they were a decade ago, it’s hard to fathom but it’s also a sign that fewer perpetrators are getting away with violence ... more are getting charged. “I believe it is a sign of culture shifting.” Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing Alison Evans said the $86 million funding boost was welcomed by the sector, especially the investment in refuges, child services and men’s behavioural programs. “It’s a strong recognition of how critical our frontline refuge services are. Every day they are saving women and children’s lives,” Dr Evans said. “It’s also recognized by the WA Labor Government that this is an investment that will be built on too — so it’s a really strong start. “Refuges are no different to the rest of the community in terms of dealing with the impact of a rising cost-of-living. It has impacted them being able to make ends meet. “I think that’s also one of the reasons why the Government recognised they needed an immediate uplift in funding so that they can meet some of those increasing demands.” “It’s very much appreciated that the Government has recognised that viability for the services is so important.” If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.