Continued Commitment to Eliminate Family Violence
25th May, 2017
Will Hodgman, Premier
The Tasmanian Liberal Government remains firmly committed to eliminating family violence.
The 2017-18 State Budget is all about Building Tasmania’s Future; a future which should be free from family violence.
The Budget includes $15.4 million over the next two years to continue our nation leading Family Violence Action Plan which has grown to include 23 separate actions.
A new initiative is a trial of electronic monitoring of high risk family violence offenders (in partnership with the Australian Government). This will involve a target group of high risk perpetrators who have a monitoring condition placed on them as a condition of a Family Violence Order. Perpetrators will have exclusion zones specified in accordance with relevant conditions contained within an order.
The trial will also allow victims the option of voluntarily carrying a small, portable GPS device to enhance the ability of officials to detect breaches involving approaches made to victims outside identified exclusion zones. Monitoring of perpetrators will occur in ‘real time’ using GPS technology which will alert officials to any breaches, helping to keep women and their children safe. This $2.79 million initiative will be funded in partnership with the Australian Government.
In addition, significant new funding has been allocated for initiatives right across Government to support victims of family violence and to assist the prosecution of perpetrators, including:
- $1.68m for a Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to increase the chances of successful prosecution and improve victim support;
- $420,000 over two years for an Eligible Persons Register so victims of family violence, if they choose, can be informed of a prisoner’s location and progress in the prison system; and
- $3.4m over four years to roll out Body Worn Cameras to all frontline police officers, an important tool in responding to family violence incidents.
With the Budget back in balance we can now afford to invest more in essential services and supporting those who need it most.