Rosie Batty’s elevation to Australian of the Year has intensified pressure on the NSW government, two months from an election, to overhaul its approach to tackling the “serious epidemic” of domestic violence.
Buoyed by Ms Batty’s calls for stronger leadership and increased funding to cut family violence rates, Domestic Violence NSW will demand an extra $40 million to $50 million over the next three to five years from the NSW government.
“There’s not enough money in the sector, and a study showed one in two couldn’t get into a refuge,” chief executive Moo Baulch said. “We need the money to deliver co-ordinated, integrated services to respond to every victim of domestic violence in NSW.”
Ms Batty, the mother of 11-year-old Luke, who was killed by his father at cricket training last February, received the honour on Sunday for her work against domestic violence.
“The systems are not working, the governments know that from the statistics, from the funding that’s been gobbled up and the solutions not making [much difference],” she said on the ABC.
NSW Minister for Women Pru Goward said she is satisfied with her work in the sector, including a trial referral system in Orange and Waverley that includes a database so victims.
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