Family violence is totally unacceptable and has no place in our community.
Tasmania led the nation when we announced our Family Violence Action Plan in 2015. It was a plan developed by experts, with input from the community and the best available research and practice. It was described as nation leading.
The Plan was designed to bring family violence out from behind closed doors and made an unprecedented investment in prevention, early intervention, and holding perpetrators to account.
While as a community we have made significant progress, the Government acknowledges there is still more work to be done.
The 2018-19 Budget will include an additional $20.2 million to continue our work in addressing the scourge of family violence by investing;
Our new investments will ensure we continue to offer the greatest protection possible for Tasmanian families at risk.
During the recent election campaign I committed to, within 100 days of returning to Government, commencing a comprehensive, cross-agency evaluation of Stage I of the Family Violence Action Plan in order to inform the next stages.
The precise nature of the programs and initiatives in Stage II of Family Violence Action Plan will be determined by the evaluation now underway which includes opportunities for public consultation. Stage II is scheduled to commence in July 2019.
The funding commitment in this year’s Budget provides certainty to partner organisations and agencies, and the broader community, of my Government’s unwavering commitment to continuing our efforts to eliminate family violence.