07:43

The Senate has passed a motion criticising the government’s decision to include funding for couples counselling as part of $10 million program to tackle family violence.

Guardian Australia reported at the weekend that women’s safety groups had raised concerns about the Specialised Family Violence Services package, which was announced in the budget.



The Greens deputy leader, Larissa Waters, said the government had acted against the advice of experts in the field and the money should go to specialist domestic and family violence services, rather than faith-based family relationship services.



“Frontline services desperately need more funding,” she said.



The motion called on the government to “ensure [survivors are] not forced to undergo counselling with perpetrators”, a claim which the social services minister, Anne Ruston, said was “misleading”.



Ruston said providers did not force survivors to undergo counselling with perpetrators.



“The government believes we should provide a wide range of services to encourage women to come forward,” she said.

The Guardian found nearly half of the organisations invited to apply for the funding were religious-based.