A leading domestic violence advocate has accused the ACT government of failing to properly direct funds from its Safer Families Levy to Canberrans experiencing domestic and family violence.
The 2016 levy was introduced after the Canberra community endured four domestic violence deaths in 2015, including mother Tara Costigan who was killed with an axe as she tried to flee with her week-old baby in her arms.
In the 2021-22 budget, the levy was increased, requiring all Canberra households to pay $50 per year by 2024-25 as part of their rates bill to fund the territory's domestic, family and sexual violence response.
But now in a budget submission, community service provider YWCA has raised questions about where the millions of dollars are ending up.
"I think the average Canberran would expect that the Family Safety Levy is going towards frontline services to provide support and safety for people experiencing family and domestic violence," YWCA chief executive Frances Crimmins said.
She has criticised the ACT government for directing the bulk of the money to costs associated with running government services, rather than properly funding frontline community providers.
"In 2022, the number of incoming referrals to YWCA Canberra's Domestic Violence Support Service increased by more than 15 per cent to a total of 216," Ms Crimmins explained.
She said a quarter of those women could not be assisted due to "oversubscription and under-resourcing".
"Yet this demonstrable demand does not appear to be being met with forthcoming financial support from the ACT government," she added.
Ms Crimmins said on one occasion, YWCA attempted to secure funding for a client trying to escape domestic violence but was told the funding pool had been exhausted.
"We're concerned that the Family Safety Levy is going towards things the government should be funding as a function of government," she said.
"What we're trying to understand is how much the government should fund themselves, like the legislative changes — that should be a core function of government, not funded by a levy from ratepayers."
Ms Crimmins said the most frustrating aspect was a lack of "transparency" in expenditure.
They are hoping the scheme will be examined by the ACT Audit Office.
The levy is expected to raise about $34 million over the four years to 2025-26.
Government responds by pointing to latest budget
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Yvette Berry was contacted about YWCA's concerns and a spokeswoman directed the ABC to the government's latest budget outlook.
The papers said the levy "recognises that preventing domestic, family and sexual violence is a collective responsibility across our community".
The government's latest budget shows it plans to spend more than $6.6 million on its Family Safety Hub over four years to 2025-26.
The hub is designed to coordinate government and community domestic violence responses.
Another large chunk of funding over that period is carved out to deliver the government's Family Violence Safety Action Program.
More than $4 million is set aside to support a domestic violence response in health and community settings, while $400,000 is earmarked for Women's Safety Grants.
Canberra Rape Crisis Centre is set to receive almost $500,000 over those four years
The Domestic Violence Crisis Service will get almost $1 million, while its Room4Change program that rehabilitates perpetrators will get $1.2 million.
The government's next budget is expected in the coming months.
