Budget delivers for survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence

• $58.3 million over four years and $20.7 million per annum to address demand for and gaps in domestic, family and sexual violence service provision.
• Court upgrades in 81 locations to make it easier for victim-survivors to give evidence.
• Key Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce Report Two recommendations funded.

 Significant investment in initiatives that deliver support services for survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence are at the forefront of the 2023 Queensland Budget.

The significant investment is a continuation of the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to prevent domestic, family and sexual violence, support victim-survivors and their families, and ensure perpetrators are held to account and supported to stop using violence.

The funding places victim-survivors at the centre of how we respond to sexual violence and includes expansion of the Sexual Assault Response Team to two new locations and court upgrades in 81 locations to make it easier for victim-survivors to give evidence in court.

To meet immediate demands in the sector, $58.3 million has been allocated over four years and $20.7 million per annum ongoing to address demand for and gaps in domestic, family and sexual violence service provision.

This is in addition to the five-year $225 million funding package to implement recommendations of the Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce Report Two, which focused on women’s and girls’ experiences across the criminal justice system.

In particular, that funding package included additional funding of $12.6 million over five years and $2.6 million per annum ongoing to provide support for victim-survivors through their criminal justice journey.

This funding, which will be topped up with a further $3.6 million (plus $597,000 per annum ongoing) in internal departmental funding, will enable:

• a statewide victim advocate service pilot
• a five-year sexual violence service system strategic investment plan
• implementation of a victim-centric, trauma-informed service model for responding to sexual violence
• safe pathways for victim survivors of sexual violence across the criminal justice system
• establishment of a victim's commissioner
• consideration of establishment of an independent sexual violence case review board
• a review of policies, guidelines and court models to ensure the needs of women and girls are met.

The Budget also includes significant funding as previously announced within the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce Report Two package for a raft of significant initiatives to improve the treatment of victim-survivors during trials for sexual offences. 

These initiatives include $7.4 million over five years and $1.3 million per annum ongoing to protect the safety of victim-survivors of sexual violence when attending courts and ensure access to appropriate legal information and advice.

This will be supported with a further $877,000 over five years and $130,000 per annum ongoing in internal department funds.

An additional $8.1 million will be allocated over four years to support prosecution responses to victim-survivors of sexual violence to help avoid re-traumatisation of victims during a criminal trial.

Additional funding of $7 million over three years has also been allocated for jury directions and the use of expert evidence in trials for sexual offences.

This includes trialing a pilot expert evidence panel for sexual offence proceedings and evaluating the impact and outcomes of amendments to legislative provisions within the Evidence Act 1977.

The treatment and safety of women and girls in prisons and watchhouses has also been addressed in the budget.

Increased funding of $5.7 million over four years and $1.7 million per annum has been allocated to improve women and girls' experiences in watchhouses, on remand, and when applying for bail.

This includes funding support for the expansion of early bail support programs and early intervention services for women and girls to areas beyond Southeast Queensland.

More broadly, $2.5 million has been allocated over five years plus $821,000 in internal funds to address community attitudes to sexual violence and consent.

These funds will enable the implementation of a primary prevention-focused community education campaign to improve awareness and understanding about sexual violence and consent.

A further $1.9 million over four years along with $1.5 million of internal funding will address

barriers to reporting sexual violence.

Quotes attributable to the Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk:

“We’ve allocated nearly $60 million over four years to bridge gaps in domestic, family, and sexual violence services across the state.

“This is on top of the more than $1.5 billion we’ve committed since 2015 to end domestic, family and sexual violence in Queensland.

“This budget once again demonstrates my government’s unwavering commitment to women’s safety and tackling violence against women.”

Quotes attributable to the Treasurer Cameron Dick:

“This budget sends a clear message that we will not tolerate violence against women and girls.

“We’re investing in initiatives that supports survivors, holds perpetrators accountable, and builds a safer and more inclusive Queensland for all.

“This budget also invests in rehabilitation support for women in prison and girls in detention, including legal advice to women in custody and additional early bail support programs.”

Quotes attributable to the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Yvette D’Ath.

“The second Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce report presented us with a blueprint for delivering trauma-informed responses to women who come into contact with the criminal justice system.

“We’re acting on that report to ensure that throughout every step of a victim-survivor’s criminal justice journey, we’re investing in the wrap-around support services to keep them safe.

“We’re also expanding the range of legal services and support available, upgrading our courts to make it easier for survivors to give evidence, and investing in initiatives that break down barriers to supporting survivors of sexual violence.”

ENDS

Media contact – Cullen Robinson 0418 170 474