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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-02-06 Daily Xml
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Domestic and Family Violence

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (14:33): My question is directed to the Minister for Human Services. Will the minister update the chamber about the progress of the government's election commitment to deliver additional crisis beds for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:34): I thank the honourable member for his question and for his interest in this area. Indeed, I acknowledge that he, along with other members of this house and the other chamber, is a White Ribbon Ambassador and may well have been the first or one of the very early adopters of—

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins interjecting:

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: As he out of order interjects, the Hon. John Gazzola and the Hon. Ian Hunter were part of that first group. It does give me great pleasure to update the house in terms of our election commitments, which were very comprehensive. Of course, we have delivered on a range of those, including our domestic violence stakeholder round tables in regional areas; safety hubs, which have been extended into Murray Bridge and Berri; the peak body funding for what is now known as Emboldened, formerly the Coalition of Women's Domestic Violence Services; and the personal protection app for people who are at risk of experiencing domestic violence.

There is 24/7 funding for the women's safety crisis hotline. As we know, these matters can escalate at any time of night or day. Previously after hours, that number was triaged through to the Homelessness Gateway. Now we are beginning to roll out the crisis accommodation beds for domestic violence victims. On 29 January, together with the Assistant Minister for Domestic and Family Violence Prevention, Carolyn Power, and the member for King, I had the great pleasure of attending the newly refurbished beds for the northern region. There are eight that have been opened there.

We know that there will be demand, particularly as a better option for families rather than being in hotels and motels, which we are trying to move away from. These crisis beds have had upgrades to their security. They have been refurbished and they are a much more pleasant option for people than hotels and motels. We have also sourced the regional locations. There will be 17 beds there—the Murray Mallee, Eyre and Western, and Limestone Coast—and six for the southern region, which we are looking at rolling out in the next few months. I look forward to updating the chamber as those come online.

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