The Morrison government will commit $328 million to a fourth wave of programs to curb violence against women after calls for more guaranteed funding and a sharper focus on prevention.
The new measures include a “Prevention Hub” for community education and support programs to act on warnings that one in four women have been subject to physical or sexual violence.
The funding is the biggest commitment so far under a federal and state plan to reduce violence against women,which has been underway since 2010 and is due to be renewed in the middle of this year.
Some of the new funding will continue programs already underway and ensure pilot schemes can keep running,given concern from domestic violence campaigner Libby Lloyd last year that too many good programs came to an end.
The new funding includes $68 million for the Prevention Hub and related schemes to respond to calls from Ms Lloyd and others to invest in education to stop violence from happening in the first place.
“A culture of disrespect toward women is a precursor to violence and anyone who doesn’t see that is kidding themselves,” said Prime Minister Scott Morrison ahead of the funding announcement on Tuesday.
The government plan comes one day after Opposition Leader Bill Shorten promised $60 million over four years to help women cover costs including rent,transport,medication,home security and transport in the wake of domestic violence.
The Labor policy,funded by some of the proceeds from a new $640 million levy on banks,offers about 20,000 grants over four years.
The Morrison government policy will form part of a national agreement at the Council of Australian Governments later this year,with the states and territories expected to propose their own funding as well.
Federal officials have worked with domestic violence campaigners and not-for-profit groups in recent months to prepare the new funding,which will start to flow on July 1.