Domestic Violence

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (14:34): My question is to the Minister for Human Services regarding domestic violence. Can the minister please update the council on how a boost in domestic violence funding has assisted South Australian women and children?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:34): I thank the honourable member for her important question and for her interest in this particular area. We have provided a number of packages through additional funding, particularly that we receive from the commonwealth government, but also funding that we committed ourselves prior to government, and on coming to office we have been able to roll out a range of preventative programs that are aimed at assisting people who are in domestic violence situations to escape or to get assistance, including for perpetrators.

Funding has reached the $25.8 million mark, which is a significant investment, particularly in primary prevention. I have talked before about our 40 new crisis accommodation beds, which was a $4 million program, including nine perpetrator beds, which are all up and running. We have also provided support to Women's Safety Services for their crisis hotline to operate 24 hours a day. We have the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, which can continue until 2024. We have funded a new domestic violence app through several different funding pieces so that the specialist services connect women with this app, which can assist them in an emergency situation.

There is funding for the coalition of women's domestic violence services, which is now known as Embolden, as their peak body, nine DV safety hubs in regional areas, primary prevention money of $1.86 million for a national sexual violence campaign called Stop it at the Start and a $5 million interest-free loan to develop a new DV supported housing initiative.

We have also been able to, through the COVID pandemic, assist women with what's called brokerage money, which is flexible financial assistance. They can use it towards a range of things that they may need assistance with. As at 31 December last year, we had had 1,133 women who had received a support package, nearly 50 per cent of whom had never actually needed assistance in the past, which has been significant for them. In one example, one woman was able to get her car fixed, which was her means of being able to leave a violent relationship. We have had very good support across the state for these packages and we know that it has been assisting South Australians through the pandemic when they have been in these terrible situations.