The National Cabinet has unveiled a $4.7 billion plan to strengthen frontline support for individuals escaping family violence, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announcing ongoing funding beyond the five-year agreement.
This commitment aims to bridge a looming “funding cliff” that would leave many services without financial backing as early as July next year.
“We’ve agreed on the need to continue this funding, and even extend it beyond five years,” Mr Albanese stated. “Legal services will now have the certainty of knowing what’s ahead.”
Approximately $800 million of the funding will be directed towards legal aid services, particularly those addressing gender-based violence, with the goal of improving pay and boosting resources.
In addition, the package will fund innovative methods to identify and respond to high-risk perpetrators, focusing on preventing violence escalation and tackling the harmful influence of industries like alcohol and gambling, which contribute to the problem.
Mr Albanese highlighted the need for cultural change to stop the cycle of violence, stating, “Often, these tragedies involve perpetrators who were exposed to violence in their own families. We must intervene to change that culture and make it unacceptable.”
However, tensions arose during the press conference when Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth expressed frustration with state delays in increasing family violence support staff. Queensland Premier Steven Miles responded by calling her comments “unhelpful,” emphasising that finding workers isn’t easy, saying states “can’t magic these workers up.”
This funding announcement follows the release of a rapid review by the Domestic and Sexual Violence Commissioner, which identified industries such as alcohol, gambling, and pornography as significant contributors to family violence. The federal government is continuing discussions on banning gambling advertising, while states and territories are reviewing existing alcohol laws.
Social media’s role in exacerbating violence was also discussed, with Mr Albanese hinting at imminent actions coordinated between states and territories.
The new deal builds upon the nearly $1 billion allocated in the federal budget for the Leaving Violence Program, which offers support packages up to $5,000 to assist victim-survivors in leaving dangerous situations.
This meeting in Canberra marked the second special session of National Cabinet focused on family violence, driven by several high-profile incidents that have shocked the nation. First Ministers reaffirmed that tackling the national crisis of gender-based violence will remain a priority for all governments.
First Ministers also signed a new Heads of Agreement for a National Access to Justice Partnership, ensuring a crucial $800 million increase in legal aid over five years, with ongoing funding from 1 July 2025.
A renewed five-year National Partnership Agreement on Family, Domestic, and Sexual Violence Responses, totalling over $700 million, will begin on 1 July 2025. This agreement will allow states and territories greater flexibility to allocate funding according to local needs and will be accompanied by stronger transparency and accountability measures.
The package will fund:
- Specialist services for women and children exposed to family, domestic, and sexual violence.
- Men’s behaviour change programs aimed at preventing gendered violence.
- Innovative strategies to better identify high-risk perpetrators, share information across systems, and intervene early to stop violence from escalating.
First Ministers also agreed to develop best practice family and domestic violence risk assessment principles and strengthen information sharing between family law courts, child protection agencies, police, and other entities to better track high-risk perpetrators.
State and territory leaders committed to reviewing alcohol laws to mitigate their impact on family violence, building on earlier federal commitments to address violent online pornography.
The Commonwealth will provide an additional $80 million to expand trauma-informed support for children and young people who have witnessed or experienced family violence, with a specific focus on First Nations children through culturally safe consultation.
Additionally, the government will commence an audit of key Commonwealth systems to ensure they are not being exploited by perpetrators of family violence.
This $4.7 billion package marks a significant step in the government’s effort to end gender-based violence in a generation, with a coordinated national approach required to address the complex factors contributing to the crisis.
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