Women fleeing domestic or family violence will receive more support for every step of the way as the Albanese government bolsters efforts to end gender-based violence.
An additional $1.1 billion has been allocated in the federal budget following a spate of domestic violence deaths and incidents.
From mid-2025, people fleeing domestic violence will get $5000 in financial support as part of a $925 million program, continuing a trial in place.
The payments will be indexed to ensure they keep up with the cost of living.
A range of legal services including legal aid commissions, community legal centres and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services will receive an additional $44.1 million in 2024/25, enabling them to deliver advice for women experiencing, or at risk of, family and domestic violence.
Another $6 million will help provide women in crisis and temporary accommodation with trauma-informed healthcare.
The government has introduced funding to prevent violence against specific demographics, including university students and temporary visa holders.
Universities will be required to strengthen their responses to gender-based violence as the government commits nearly $19 million over four years to developing and introducing a code of conduct.
An independent national student ombudsman will be created to investigate and resolve companies under a $19.4 million two-year program.
Migrant and refugee women who may stay in a violent relationship to preserve their visa statuses will receive $6.1 million more in specialised support.
Meanwhile, $1.3 million will be offered to an independent expert panel that will review and advise the governments on its approach to violence prevention.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the budget commitments would take the government's total investment in women's safety to $3.4 billion.
"Violence against women is a national shame - and it requires national action," he told parliament.
"We know there is more work for all of us to do."
The government has targeted other issues that create inequalities that can prevent women from fleeing violence.
For example, $1.1 billion in super will be paid on government-funded parental leave which will help reduce the gender pay gap.
Root causes of domestic violence, such as online misogyny, have been belled in the budget as the government commits $6.5 million to develop an age verification technology pilot aimed at preventing children's access to harmful content like pornography.
One woman was killed every 11 days by a current or former partner between 2022 and 2023, and one in four women across the nation have experienced violence or abuse by an intimate partner.
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