Leader Bill Shorten says violence is a ‘national disgrace’ and ‘equality for women will be a priority’ if he wins office

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Labor says it will spend $88m over two years on a housing program to help women and children escape domestic and family violence, if it wins the election.

Labor leader Bill Shorten said one of the most common reasons why women remain in violent relationships was the lack of housing options available if they leave.

A safe housing program would increase the number of dwellings specifically available for women and children fleeing domestic violence, filling a gap between crisis housing and longer-term arrangements, he said.

It would also provide funding to support women to stay safe in their own homes.

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The announcement came just days after the government of the Australian Capital Territory introduced a “safer families” levy in its 2016 budget.

The $30 a year levy will give ACT domestic violence and justice services a $21.4m boost. It is believed to be the first such levy in the world to pay for domestic violence services and prevention.

Shorten said if he won government Labor would provide $88m in funding to build or purchase more accommodation for short-term or transitional housing options at affordable rents for women and children trying to escape domestic violence.

States and territories would be able to bid for funding through a competitive process. To leverage more funding for the program, states and territories would be required to match the federal funding.

Community housing providers, in partnership with specialist domestic violence services, would also be able to apply for funding as long as the project had a valid business case which met the objectives of the program.

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“Family violence is a crisis which requires more than a change in attitudes. It is a national disgrace that demands a national approach,” Shorten said.



“Equality for the women of Australia will be a national priority for a Shorten Labor government.

“Central to our plan is Labor’s commitment to safe housing for women and children escaping domestic and family violence, which is a major cause of homelessness in Australia,” he said.

According to the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare, over one third of people who accessed specialist homelessness services over the three years to 2013-14 were seeking assistance due to domestic and family violence.

The majority of those were women – 110,000 women compared with 12,000 men – and more than 45,000 of this group were women with children.

“Many more women want to leave an abusive relationship but cannot. Or do leave, only to return because they have nowhere else to go. This has to change,” Shorten said.

Labor would also commission a national summit within the first 100 days of gaining office to help reform judicial and social services to better deal with family violence.

The Turnbull government launched a confronting new ad campaign earlier this year to try to break the cycle of domestic violence.

The ads highlighted pervasive negative attitudes towards women and encouraged parents, teachers and other influencers of young people to rethink their language.

The $30m campaign was jointly funded by federal and state and territory governments.