Family violence victims in regional areas will be a priority under the Andrews Labor Government’s overhaul of Victoria’s broken family violence system.
The Labor Government will implement all 227 recommendations stemming from the report by the Royal Commission into Family Violence – with work well under way on reforms regarding risk management and information sharing.
Family violence is more common in regional and rural areas, with offences 65 per cent higher per capita compared to metropolitan Melbourne.
Isolation, challenges with maintaining anonymity, privacy, and limited resources are all contributing factors to a higher rate of family violence in regional Victoria.
The Royal Commission has recommended that a statewide Family Violence Action Plan give priority to Victorians living in rural, regional and remote communities.
In addition, we will establish 17 safety hubs, including in regional areas to boost early intervention services and provide more specialist family violence services within courts.
We will ensure stronger accountability for perpetrators, more resources for police, family violence training at hospitals and schools and an independent agency to hold governments to account.
There will be a housing blitz for women in crisis, and more resources for schools to teach the next generation about respectful relationships.
The Government will work closely with victims and survivors across Victoria and with the people and organisations that support them, to build a better system that will help prevent family violence and keep people safe.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development Jaala Pulford
“Family violence is alarmingly higher in some regional and rural areas, and we know living in a remote place can increase a person’s risk of family violence.”
“The Andrews Labor Government will be a voice for victims and survivors in regional Victoria as we overhaul our family violence system.”
“We need lasting generational change for Victorians from all parts of the state – and we’ll be working to make the system better for all Victorians, no matter where they live.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020