Family and Domestic Violence in South West Victoria 

Five women killed in violent deaths in Victoria and local services reporting significant spikes in people desperate for help to address violence requires a more urgent response from the Victorian and Albanese Labor governments.

After listening to key frontline workers at a safer families roundtable in Warrnambool, local police and discussions in Hamilton, Shadow Minister for Child Protection and the Prevention of Family Violence Kerrynne Liddle said the governments’ go slow is appalling given the evidence.

Warrnambool domestic violence response services report a doubling of service demand within a six-month period to February 2024 for clients seeking help and a tripling in demand for legal representation.

“There is no excuse for violence in all its forms but services are reporting drivers related to cost of living and a housing shortage, leaving people who should flee without an escape because there’s simply nowhere to go,” Senator Liddle said.

Senator Liddle said it was a similar story in all regional towns she visited.

“The incredibly committed workers are seeing incidents increasing, people moving to crisis situations much quicker than before and the level of intensity of violence is noticeably greater,” she said.

“Joining Member for Wannon Dan Tehan MP, we heard the workforce is also affected by operating uncertainty waiting for Budget announcements to confirm if they are able to hire or will even have ongoing funding for their work.”

Victoria was promised 101 community service workers as a 2022 election commitment from the Albanese Government which it has been slow to deliver.

At the end of February not a single worker was on the frontline and there is no formal confirmation that any workers are in place in Victoria.

“500 new community service workers were promised across the country but at the end of February, only two were in place nationally,” Senator Liddle said.

“I wrote to the State Minister in December – five months ago – and as yet don’t even have a response to how many frontline workers are in place. Victoria received funding towards that effort in November.

“It’s not good enough when vulnerable people such as women, children and elders are being impacted every day. Each day they wait unnecessarily is a day too long.

“As our population increases under Labor’s Big Australia policy, planning to ensure crucial services are not overwhelmed is critical. With any trend, the impact on all communities but particularly regional communities must be central to the thinking.”

18 women have been killed so far this year. Five of them have been in Victoria. On that trajectory it is likely the country will unfortunately surpass last year’s terrible toll of 60 women killed.

“Despite services facing increasing demand, all urge those at risk to seek help early including reaching out to such helplines as 1800Respect or 13YARN,” Senator Liddle said.