Eliminating family violence remains a top priority for our Government and we are strongly committed to preventing and responding to family violence in Tasmania.
That is why, to help break down another barrier for those fleeing from family violence, we will exclude fees for all documents relating to proceedings under the Family Violence Act 2004. This will include all fees, not just a filing fee.
Whilst, there is already a mechanism in place to waive these fees by our courts, and there is no cost at all for urgent Police Family Violence Orders, we want to ensure there are no barriers whatsoever for anyone seeking to get away from a violent relationship.
Importantly, today we also launched the adoption of the Our Watch Workplace Equality and Respect Standards by Tasmanian Government departments.
Our Watch has led a number of primary prevention campaigns and developed a significant body of resources to support governments, business, community groups and individuals to make the behavioural and cultural changes that lead to violence.
We know that we can end violence against women by increasing knowledge, awareness and understanding of the nature and causes of family violence and influencing attitudes to bring about behavioural change.
Through the adoption of the Our Watch Workplace Equality and Respect Standards, our State Service workplaces will deliver actions against five standards that will:
o secure the commitment of leaders and staff;
o ensure conditions support gender equality;
o reject sexist and discriminatory cultures;
o support staff who experience violence; and
o integrate gender equality into their core business.
Last year we launched our second, comprehensive whole of government action plan for family and sexual violence. Safe Homes, Families, Communities represents the next stage of our Government’s long-term commitment to preventing and responding to family violence and includes a new response to sexual violence.
With this new Plan, we are investing an additional $26 million over three years for 40 actions to prevent and respond to family and sexual violence in Tasmania, with $3.3 million invested in primary prevention and early intervention initiatives.
Living free from violence is everyone’s right and taking action to prevent it is everyone’s responsibility. Together we can create a Tasmania free from family violence.