Federal government urges states to miss DV workforce targets ahead of expected $351 million relief package

The federal government has called on states and territories to step up their efforts to reduce domestic, sexual and family violence. The Commonwealth is expected to commit a package of at least $351 million to tackle the problem.

The Prime Minister will meet with Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers on Friday morning to specifically discuss men’s violence against women and children. This comes just weeks after the government’s own review recommended a complete ban on gambling advertising, stricter alcohol regulations and significant investment in frontline services.

The meeting comes as nearly all states remain behind on their commitment to hire 500 frontline workers. The last update on that commitment in August showed that only 198 full-time equivalents had been hired.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth called on the states to do better, saying the federal government had kept its end of the bargain by providing the funds to the states and territories.

Package of at least $351 million expected

The ABC understands the federal government will provide a $351 million package, with states and territories expected to contribute a further $351 million based on their population size.

If the rest of the group agrees, it would be an extension of the current arrangements, which are due to expire soon, which support frontline services.

The community law centers recently called on the federal government to increase funding. Without this increase, they would likely have to turn away their clients.

It is expected that they will also be included in the government’s national cabinet offering, as part of a continuation of existing programme funding.

Arlia Fleming, CEO of the Central Tablelands and Blue Mountains Community Legal Centre and vice-president of Community Legal Centres Australia, said more funding cannot come soon enough.

“We would be very disappointed if (justice centers) are not included,” she said.

“Our sector is truly at the forefront; without help, people cannot bring their children to safety.”

‘States and territories must deliver now’

Ms Rishworth said states and territories “must deliver now” on the agreements they signed when they pledged to deploy 352 workers by June this year. The combined national target of 500 is expected by 2026.

“There have been two payments made to the states and territories so far – they have the resources, they have to deliver … they were clear about that commitment and they missed the June 30 deadline,” she said.

“We expect them to deliver on their promises and we will continue to work with them to ensure employees can get online in a timely manner.”

According to the August update on progress on the 500-worker program, two months after the mid-year deadline, most states are still well behind on their commitments.

New South Wales agreed to cut 118 jobs by June 30; by the end of August, it had only 30.2 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs.

Earlier this year, New South Wales Domestic Violence Minister Jodie Harrison said the state planned to hire the group of workers before the end of September.

Based on last month’s report, NSW would need to hire 4.8 full-time workers every day to meet the target.

Elsewhere in Tasmania, just 15.6 workers were hired in August, despite a pledge to hire 22.4 by June 30. However, the government continues to insist it is on track to reach a total of 24.6 full-time workers by the end of 2024/25.

A WA government spokesman said it had awarded contracts to 13 community service organisations to implement the initiative, with the state hiring 22 of the 38.4 workers it was supposed to hire by the end of June.

The August progress report showed Queensland had hired 51.4 full-time equivalent staff, with 91 already hired as of June 30 as part of the funding agreement with the federal government.

A Queensland Government spokesperson said funding has been made available for domestic, sexual and family violence services, which has so far allowed for the hiring of 110 full-time staff.

The ACT was the only location that actually followed through on its promise and hired the seven employees they agreed to.