‘Dedicated funding needed for LG to counter family violence’

Local government’s readiness to help reduce domestic
violence is being stymied by inadequate state and federal government financial
support, ALGA has told a federal inquiry.

In a submission to the House of Representatives Standing
Committee inquiring into family, domestic and sexual violence, ALGA said it is
essential councils receive dedicated funding to maximise their capacity to
respond to and prevent domestic violence.

Councils operate under increasingly constrained financial
environments, including rate capping (in some states), cost shifting from the state/territory
governments and increasing costs of delivering services to communities, ALGA
said.

“Regional and remote councils are already much more reliant on external funding sources and face additional resource and capacity challenges than their urban counterparts. Federal government funding is essential in enabling those councils to commence domestic violence prevention activities or upscale existing initiatives.

“Councils are well placed to provide guidance and support
for awareness raising and prevention activities at local level,” the submission
said – noting that state and territory local government associations have been
working with jurisdictions to implement state government initiatives and
campaigns.

“[However] this has largely been in a supportive and cooperative role without legislative requirement or funding.”

ALGA is proposing two options for funding to local
government:

• Funding directly to councils, based on a proven
  funding model; and
• Funding for a dedicated domestic violence policy
  officer in each State and Territory Association recommending the Commonwealth
  to provide funding assistance.

In addition, ALGA is recommending that local government be
represented on the Women’s Safety Taskforce of the National Federation Reform
Council.

It is also supporting calls for increased Commonwealth
funding for support services, safe housing and psychological support for people
suffering domestic abuse.

The submission said the newly launched Domestic Violence Toolkit for Local Government, developed with input and support from councils and state and territory local government associations (particularly the Municipal Association of Victoria), underlined the fact that councils are “uniquely placed to influence and drive social change to reduce domestic violence.

“While prevention of domestic, sexual and family violence is
not a core responsibility of local government, the position of councils in the
community means they are particularly aware of the effects of domestic violence
on their communities and understand which approaches are likely to work in
their communities.”