Domestic and Family Violence

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:56): My question is to the Minister for Human Services regarding domestic violence. Can the minister please provide an update to the council about how the Marshall Liberal government is improving safety for regional South Australians at risk of domestic violence?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:57): I thank the honourable member for showing the opposition how it is done. The Marshall Liberal government invested $11.9 million in our first few budgets for a suite of measures to support women and children at risk and deliver on our election commitments. These are outlined in Committed to Safety, which is our strategy to address domestic and family violence. This is a collaboration with non-government service providers, community members, people with lived experience and the Office for Women.

There has been a range of measures that operate statewide, including the disclosure scheme, which enables people to request information about a partner's criminal history and be provided with support from a specialist women's domestic violence service to manage any of that information, in conjunction with SAPOL.

We are also developing a statewide early support counselling service for perpetrators of domestic violence, which was funded through commonwealth funding. We also have the personal protection app, which links at-risk individuals to South Australia Police through a 24-hour monitored security centre. Prior to COVID, we ran a range of round tables, particularly in regional areas because, as we know, in terms of service provision one size doesn't fit all. We completed our round tables in 2019 and held a range of virtual ones during COVID in 2020.

We have been able to supply new crisis accommodation in regional areas, including 17 beds for the Limestone Coast, Murray Mallee, Eyre and Western. We also have our family safety frameworks, which operate across South Australia, and we have been rolling out the safety hubs into regional South Australia. In addition to the original one, which was opened at Murray Bridge, we also have a safety hub operating from Berri.

I was hoping to have opened the Port Augusta one on Friday but due to the restrictions was unable to attend that in person, but that is now operational. That features a safe drop-in space and phone and computer access. Women and children will receive one-on-one support from Kornar Winmil Yunti (KWY).

Another hub will open in Gawler early this month, which is joining the other existing hubs. These safety hubs are helping to assist people to link into services. The location of these safety hubs in community centres means that people who are in the community who might not be aware of the fact that they are experiencing domestic and family violence can connect with people.

Particularly the Women's Information Service has been training volunteers to assist women in the Barossa, Light and Lower North region. They are key partners in terms of ensuring that services are available for these particular regional areas. We are looking forward to opening new safety hubs across South Australia, on which I will report back to the chamber in due course.