Washington Allocates Billions to Enhance Safety and Security
A funding of $96.4 million will be utilized to expand the operations of the family and domestic violence response team and establish a dedicated organization to address FDV.
The Cook Labor government has allocated a significant funding scheme to enhance safety and security in Western Australia (WA), with a contribution of $5.1 billion ($3.4 billion) to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) over the next four years.
WA government’s commitments include $96.4 million to extend the family and domestic violence (FDV) response team operations to run seven days a week. They will also create a specialized organization to support and develop FDV-informed workforces.
In addition, funding will be allocated for a new FDV One Stop Hub in Perth and two rapid rehousing programs in Leonara to serve as emergency accommodations for victim-survivors.
Last year, WA Police saw a rise in family-related assault incidents by 11 percent to 29,273, and reports of violence restraining order breaches increased by 20 percent to 15,200.
Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence, Sabine Winton, emphasized that FDV is a prevalent issue in households across Australia and that prioritizing the safety of victim-survivors is crucial.
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Furthermore, an allocation of $88.3 million has been made to enhance the operations of Home Stretch WA to support young people transitioning out of out-of-home care, expand foster care support statewide, and upgrade residential care homes for children in out-of-home care.
An amount of $26.4 million has been designated for WA Police’s Operation Regional Shield to facilitate the swift deployment of additional police assets across the state as needed for the next two years.
Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia highlighted the success of Operation Regional Shield in reducing crime and antisocial behavior in country Western Australia.
Moreover, the state has earmarked $36.4 million for offender rehabilitation and state infrastructure enhancement, which includes additional funding for the Casuarina Prison Expansion Project and the extension of the Mallee Rehabilitation Centre operations.
There is also a provision of $103.7 million for the state’s legal system to address the upcoming requirements of the Criminal Law (Mental Impairment) Act 2023, effective from Sept. 1.
This funding will be used to hire a team of prosecutors to expedite regional Children’s Court cases involving juvenile offenders and relieve workload pressures in the State Solicitor’s Office and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Attorney-General John Quigley emphasized the importance of efficient handling of cases by the ODPP and the crucial role played by the State Solicitor’s Office in providing legal services to the government and state entities.
Additionally, the state plans to contribute approximately $1.3 billion to the NDIS in 2024-25, along with continued funding for state-run disability services like individual and systemic advocacy programs.
Seniors and Ageing Minister Don Punch announced state funding of $8.8 million to support programs for Western Australian seniors, including the WA Seniors Card program that offers government concessions, rebates, and discounts nationwide.
