The New South Wales government is preparing a major package of reforms aimed at the crisis of violence against women after a dedicated cabinet meeting that heard from advocates including Rosie Batty about the urgent need for change.
The acting premier, Prue Car, promised that the suite of measures to be announced “within days” would focus on crisis services, as well as preventive measures and “cultural change that stops this from happening”.
“We need to invest very clearly in crisis responses and frontline services for women who are fleeing … but we need to do better in primary prevention and in early intervention,” Car said.
“Rosie Batty herself today said that if you focus too much on the women at the bottom of the cliff then you’re not going to get the women who are about to fall off. The government has to do all of this at once.”
The package was still being drawn up but Car said it would be significant and could include education in public schools and accommodation measures.
The housing minister, Rose Jackson, said the government would look at all available options to create crisis housing stock urgently, including retrofitting vacant motels and aged care facilities, and erecting modular homes.
“It frustrates me, as it does everyone, that it is often the women and children that have to leave the home,” she said. “But the reality is, when we are prioritising women’s safety, a safe place to go is critical.”
Jackson said she wanted to assure the women of NSW that she understood their anger and exhaustion.
“All of that energy to protect your safety has fallen on your shoulders and we as a government want to step up and give you a rest, give you a break from that by doing the things that we can,” she said.
The minister urged men to engage with the problem.
“Young men, boys, this is a time for you to show how much you care about the women in your life and be that change, amongst you and your mates, to show enough is enough,” she said.
Last week the premier, Chris Minns, said the government was seeking advice on whether bail law reforms were required after Molly Ticehurst’s shocking death in Forbes in the state’s central west.
A former boyfriend of the 28-year-old has been charged with murder. A court heard that he had been released on bail two weeks before she died after being charged with several violent offences against her.
Car said bail law reforms would be discussed by police ministers and attorneys general at a meeting to discuss the crisis on Friday.
The federal government this week announced a $925m package to help victims of violence leave abusive relationships and a ban on deepfake pornography.
After a national cabinet meeting on Wednesday the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, announced the “leaving a violent partner payment” of up to $1,500 in cash and up to $3,500 in goods and services.
The commonwealth said it would deliver a range of measures to tackle factors that exacerbate violence against women – such as violent online pornography and misogynistic content targeting children and young people.
• In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org
