Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s $1 billion package to tackle violence against women was part of yesterday’s national cabinet measures.
The federal government will provide $925 million over five years to set up the leaving violence program, which will provide financial aid and support referrals to women looking to get out of dangerous situations.
Those eligible will be able to access $5000 in support and receive access to referral services and risk assessments.
Following a national cabinet meeting focusing on gendered violence, leaders agreed to a pilot of age verification to stop children from accessing harmful online material such as pornography.
Laws will also be introduced that will ban the creation and distribution of deepfake pornography. A pilot program will be set up for age assurance technology to block access for children to online content such as pornography. A review of the online safety act will also be carried out a year ahead of schedule.
Albanese said tangible action was needed to address the issues.
“This is indeed a national crisis, and it’s a national challenge, and we’re facing this with a spirit of national unity,” he told reporters in Sydney.
“We want to change this in a way in which we all have to take responsibility, because violence against women is not a women’s problem to solve, it’s a whole of society problem.
“Men in particular have to take responsibility.”
The snap national cabinet meeting was made following large numbers of women being killed in recent weeks, with thousands marching across the country in protest against gendered violence.
Professor Magdalena Simonis, welcomed the announcement. The general practitioner, government health advisor, board director, and leading women’s health expert and advocate called for an “ongoing commitment as the trauma from family violence is intergenerational and the children are also affected”.
“It’s important to recognise that a woman is most likely to be killed by her partner within the first two months when fleeing from domestic violence, Prof. Simonis told Neos Kosmos.
The women’s health expert said that special attention needs to be paid to women of multicultural background as they “can face greater social barriers when leaving partners.”
“Non-Anglo women may fear the loss of respect from family members, as well as a loss of connection with their community.
“These women require culturally support workers, as well as, those with lived experience, that come from within their community, or similar cultural background,” said Prof. Simonis.
She added that support for culturally diverse women “needs to be ongoing, in heritage language and in English.”
“Domestic and gendered violence affects all women of multicultural background across generations.
“A woman of non-Anglo background” she said, regardless of English proficiency “may prefer to have support provided through someone from similar cultural, or faith background. A support worker who understands family and community contexts.”
Prof. Simonis said that programs like the Safer Families program that comes out of the University of Melbourne, designed especially to train GPs and nurses, “who are the front-line, require funding to expand across the health care sector.”
GPs need to know how to ask the question if they suspect a woman is facing violence, said Prof. Simonis, adding, “a woman who might be experiencing violence will be less likely to tell the GP unless she is asked”.
Anthea Sidiropoulos and Dr Spiridoula Demetriou from the board of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) in a statement to Neos Kosmos, welcomed the government’s announcement of permanent funding “to help women escape violence, long with other measures dealing with age verification for pornography”.
“We all are responsible in the development of positive relationships in our society that are healthy and respectful.
“We all must take responsibility to ensure that there is national unity in regards to this challenge and our Community is fully supportive of this initiative” .
Nia Karteris from the board of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW and chair of the Greek Fest at Darling Harbour also welcomed the announcement from the federal government, but said “more resources will be required from the Federal and State Governments.”
The problem Karteris said must be addressed “from the ground roots and the correct systems need to be put in place to support all women, but more importantly the women in emerging communities.”
She said, those facing “social economic hardship, refugees, and non-English speaking women unfortunately fall through the cracks.”
“Safe houses should also be high on the agenda for non-English speaking women who are constantly forgotten and not heard,” Karteris said.
She also called for education programs to be introduced at high school and at tertiary levels.
Karteris also underscored the need for more funding to multicultural welfare groups “to ensure the right educational programs are put in place for the diverse communities”.
Melbourne Greek community service organisation PRONIA welcomed the PM’s announcement.
“Our Greek community experiences exactly the same issues and challenges as the wider community,” they said in a statement sent to Neos Kosmos.
“It is time that there is a financial investment in support women and children escaping the terror happening within what is meant to be their safe home.”
Over the last 10 years, the organisation has assisted over 1300 women and children impacted by family violence.
Leaving a violent relationship is always difficult they said, sharing that evidence shows us it can take up to seven times for women to finally leave for good.
“There are many reasons why women do not leave a violent relationship; this may be because women do not have the finances to support themselves and their children, the shame and guilt they feel, the pressure to stay in a relationship regardless if the relationship can be fatal to her and her children, sometimes the barrier is the language, or not knowing that are services to reach out for support and assistance.”
“Sadly, leaving a family violence relationship is also the most dangerous time for a woman and her children, where her life and that of her children are at grave risk from the violent partner.”
PRONIA also said that they have had instances where they have supported women over the age of 65, who live a lifetime in a violent abusive relationship and had the courage to leave.
