Domestic and family violence advocates have called out a lack of funding in the NSW government’s budget handed down this week.
The budget allocates a total of $272.7 million for frontline domestic, family and sexual violence services, including an investment of $9.3 million to implement the Serious Domestic Abuse Prevention Orders to monitor high-risk domestic violence offenders.
Included in this allocation is $49.4 million to create a new hub to support victim-survivors, $34.5 million for an upgrade of the Downing Centre and John Madison Tower to create at least five new courtrooms, $48.3 million to fund additional solicitors at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and another $12.8 million to support staff with the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Program, aiming to reduce trauma for child complaints and witnesses in sexual offence proceedings.
The government is investing $11.2 million to begin long-term reform to systems that respond to family and domestic violence to support earlier intervention and build a stronger workforce. The budget also allocates $227 million over five years for the Victims’ Support Service, which helps victim-survivors of violent crime and family members of victims access counselling and financial assistance.
What do DV advocates think about the budget?
The national peak body for ending men’s use of domestic violence No to Violence (NTV) has said the NSW budget “fails to address the root causes” of the state’s domestic and family violence crisis.
“The budget inflates the disproportionate spend on criminal justice responses, further entrenching crisis responses to domestic and family violence (DFV) rather than investing in services to intervene earlier to prevent escalation of violence,” said No to Violence.
The organisation’s CEO Phillip Ripper put it this way: “We can’t police our way out of DFV due to the lack of evidence that incarceration is an effective way to change behaviour in the long term and the inequitable impact of criminalisation on marginalised communities.”
While No to Violence welcomes finding in the NSW budget for system reform work, they warn that it does not include funding for the early implementation of the forthcoming NSW strategy for people using violence.
“Without this investment, the NSW Government risks missing clearly identified opportunities, developed through deep consultation with the sector, to immediately improve responses to people using violence and enhance the safety of victim-survivors,” No to Violence said.
Echoing these calls, CEO of Domestic Violence NSW Delia Donovan says that the government’s lack of investment in specialist services is life-threatening.
“Despite ongoing calls from victim-survivors, frontline services, advocates and peak bodies, this budget includes no new investment in the specialist services that are the first, and often only, lifeline in crisis,” says Donovan.
Domestic Violence NSW has seen a 94 per cent increase in demand for services between May 2024 to May 2025, compared to the years prior. Due to a lack of funding, victim survivors are often left waiting two months for support in the state.
“Renewing existing contracts is not progress; it’s business as usual in the face of a growing domestic violence emergency – and the consequences will ripple through every system and every community in NSW,” Donovan says, adding that “it’s women and children who will ultimately pay the price of this inaction.”
Last year, Counting Dead Women Australia recorded the highest number of women killed by violence. In NSW the number sat at a devastating 25 deaths, with the state recording its highest murder toll nine times in the past eleven years.
Over 2023-24, NSW has seen a 6.5 per cent rise in domestic and family violence-related assaults, compared to the year prior. There’s also been a 7.6 per cent increase in intimidation, stalking and harassment, as well as 6.9 per cent more apprehended domestic violence orders (ADVOs).
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au.
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