Imagining our loved ones as a victim of family violence is a scary thought.
Unfortunately, that is the reality for more than 100,000 Victorians.
Last year was the first time that family violence incident call outs to police surpassed 100,000.
It is hard to put that number into perspective.
But to try, it is the capacity of the MCG.
As Shadow Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, I know more can be done in this space.
There has been a 12 per cent rise in reported family violence incidents since 2019, according to the Crime Statistics Agency.
In 2023-24, over 16,500 family violence victims were women aged between 25-39.
Almost 40,000 perpetrators were a victim’s current or former partner, and those perpetrators were dominantly male.
Sadly, 11 per cent of victims were children.
On average, 120 households, typically a mother and two children, fleeing domestic violence each night take refuge in a motel as there is not enough emergency accommodation available. Shockingly, the average waitlist for long-term social housing for those fleeing family violence is over 17 months.
This is far too long.
Living in a motel room during such a traumatic time with nothing but four walls and your thoughts is not an ideal situation for anyone.
With fear and anxiety levels already high, there is the additional risk that children will become disengaged with school.
Motels will always provide immediate accommodation however they are not a long-term solution for fleeing victims.
Using motels as crisis accommodation opens them up to potential violence, while victims continue to receive threats from perpetrators including stalking, harassment, assault and child abduction.
There are limited safety measures at motels and unfortunately, safety can’t be guaranteed.
To combat this, the federal government funded Safe Steps to build 28 crisis accommodation units housing 1000 people in Victoria, however the state government failed to provide the extra funding to allow it to operate.
Local motel owners are under huge pressure working together with police and organisations such as Safe Steps, The Orange Door, FVREE, and McAuley Community Services for Women, to place fleeing victims.
Despite these ongoing and increasing issues, the Victorian government has reduced family violence delivery and primary prevention funding by $32.5 million in this year’s budget.
At a time when more women and children are at risk, the government has also cut housing assistance by $169.4 million – which will further impact safe housing options for victims fleeing violence.
Slashing needed funding won’t solve Victoria’s family violence crisis.
Acting on expert recommendations, providing safe housing and funding primary prevention before violence starts will.
Everyone deserves to be safe at home.
