Less than half a billion dollars over 3.5 years has been allocated by the Albanese Government to frontline women’s safety services that can be accessed by individuals experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence.
To put that level of funding in perspective, both the Federal and NSW Governments have today announced they will jointly spend $2.5 billion in a bilateral agreement to save an aluminium smelter in Tomago. The smelter is majority-owned by minerals giant Rio Tinto, which will bring $1.1 billion to the deal.
A number of safety services are highlighting the lack of funding for frontline services in the Government’s first 3.5 years (based on the 2025–26 Supplementary Budget Estimates Period to November 2025), as the Government prepares to finalise its next five-year plan to address gender-based violence.
They say six victim-survivors are being turned away every day in NSW from homelessness services, and almost 4000 victim-survivors of domestic and family violence are unable to access services in Victoria when they reach out for help. Thousands of women across the country are unable to access services across jurisdictions every year.
As Daisy Gardener, Campaign Manager at Fair Agenda, said, a key measure of success for the government “should be whether women and children can actually access frontline services when they need them.”
And right now, such a metric would clearly indicate the plan is failing.
Right now, as we continue to report on women allegedly being murdered in or close to their homes every few days, it’s clear the previous National Action Plan has been woefully inadequate.
Leaders from frontline services will be at Parliament House from August 17 to 19 to highlight how the government’s next National Plan will fail without proper funding for frontline services.
Several leaders from such services shared comments today highlighting funding shortfalls.
Kerry Staines, CEO at First Nations Advocates Against Family Violence, said First Nations family violence prevention and legal services are lifelines, culturally safe, trusted, and often the only place a woman or family can turn.
“We don’t just respond to crises; we help communities heal and break cycles of violence. But services can’t currently help every family that needs this critical support. Governments need to urgently and sustainably fund the services our communities depend on for legal justice and to detect, and respond early to signs of violence.”
Aislinn Martin, Executive Officer of the National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence, said sexual violence services across Australia are criticall underfunded, leaving some victim-survivors facing waiting lists of up to fourteen months to access counselling due to demand.
“The Second Action Plan must commit to establishing a dedicated funding stream for sexual violence services across all states and territories,” she said.
Sue Webeck from Domestic Violence Crisis Service issued a reminder that specialist domestic and family violence services are a necessity, and not a luxury.
“They provide expert risk assessment, tailored safety planning and material support, helping women navigate complex legal and support systems while holding those using violence accountable. This work can make the difference between helping a woman reach safety, healing and recovery, and grieving the loss of another woman to violence.”
Kyeesha Jones from Barkindji Woman and a survivor-advocate, said safe and culturally responsive care can change the trajectory of victim-survivors and their families.
“It was important for my family to have support and services that cared about us, while also challenging the normalisation of violence within our communities. It is crucial that sustainable and continued funding directly reaches and resources services and communities so they can continue supporting better and safer futures for our women, children and families.”
And Tiffany Karlsson from Canberra Rape Crisis Centre said that they are seeing demand for their services continue to grow, while funding levels fall behind.
“Government funding must reach the specialist sexual violence support services doing the work so that every victim-survivor can access timely, specialist, trauma-informed support.”