E&OE TRANSCRIPT
Topics: Family and domestic violence; Men’s behaviour change; Additional funding for Tasmania; Election timing.
KYLIE BAXTER, HOST: We all know the figures around domestic violence. They are terrible and seem to be getting worse. Not everywhere, but in a lot of places. Now, Federal Labor has promised funding to tackle the issue, but the big question is, will it actually make a difference? I'm joined by Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth. Thank you for joining me on the program.
AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: Great to be with you.
KYLIE BAXTER: So, what is the current situation around domestic violence? I mean, how bad is it?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: What we have in Australia is really unacceptable levels of family and domestic violence. When you look at the statistics, one woman loses their life around every 10 days, which is just unacceptable. Partly we are seeing, of course, an important conversation about this, often domestic and family violence. We knew it may be happening behind closed doors and we weren't talking about it. It's really important we have a conversation about it, but we've got to have action as well. That's what I've been doing over the last two and a half years. But this new national partnerships agreement with the Tasmanian government allows us to roll out more support where it's needed.
KYLIE BAXTER: Okay, so let's talk about Tasmania. How are we faring in relation to domestic violence?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, each state and territory has its own challenges, but it also has some really important options and services available for people. And when it comes to Tasmania, there's been a lot of work done delivering, for example, rural family violence outreach programs. We know Tasmania is a pretty spread out place and so some of the funding that we previously worked with the Tasmanian Government has been looking at rural family violence outreach programs, but also, for example, family violence training for legal professionals, which is really important. So, look, Tasmania has some of the same challenges as the rest of the country, but also there are some other challenges, such as the spread out population, which also needs to be looked at how we address that as well.
KYLIE BAXTER: This funding announcement from the Labor Federal Government of more than $15.7 million, what exactly is it going to be used for?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: This will be used for a number of things and it complements the other investments we've made across the country, including to things like our Escaping Violence Program, which is a national program which people can get funds to leave a violent situation. But this particular new agreement will allow for funding for specialised services for women, services to support those exposed to family and domestic violence, to heal and recover, and also in particular working with men, including men's behaviour change programs. One particular program that's been identified by the Tasmanian government in which they could invest in is an early intervention program with young men, particularly around the ages of 12 to 17, really to break that cycle. They may have witnessed violence being used themselves and maybe showing signs of recreating that pattern. And so this program is really one example of a really important program about breaking that cycle.
KYLIE BAXTER: If you've just joined me, you're listening to the voice of Amanda Rishworth who is the Federal Social Services Minister. Now, when we have these conversations, despite the fact that men are mostly the perpetrators against women, we often receive texts asking, but what about men? Is there dedicated money for men? Possibly, I guess for things like psychologists and psychiatrists to help break the cycle. I mean, you've obviously mentioned, you know, younger men aged 12 and up, but what about guys of different age groups? I mean, is any money available to help them go and see a psychologist or a psychiatrist if they need it?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Yes, look, there are a lot of programs. Firstly, I would say that while we do acknowledge that men can also be victims of domestic and family violence, the vast majority are women and it is perpetrated by men. But we do acknowledge that men can be victims too. And so things like 1800RESPECT or the Escaping Violence Program is open to all victim-survivors. But if we talk about what's available to men and bringing men into the conversation, about how we solve it. You're absolutely right, there's a number or many programs that we've funded over the last two years to try and engage men. As you mentioned, we've been funding work with young boys and men, but also looking at how we have behaviour changed. So, there is No To Violence, which is a national phone line in which people can get telephone online counselling information about how they might, they might be concerned about their behaviour. This is dedicated to them to actually have a conversation. A lot of people, a lot of men decide to call Mensline as well. And that is also a very important option if people want, in a non judgmental way, to have a conversation about things that they might be concerned with and get the help they might need to engage with a behaviour change program, for example.
KYLIE BAXTER: And I guess the important question is, when are these initiatives actually going to be rolled out?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, the funding will begin from the first of July this year. That's the agreement through the national partnerships. But it is not the only money that we have contributed to the Tasmanian Government. This builds on an extra $23 million that we've provided already to the Tasmanian Government to boost things like their frontline workforce and other programs. So, this is an additional money to continue this important work.
KYLIE BAXTER: Obviously this is an election promise and so do you have concerns if Labor is not re-elected, how will things roll then for victims of domestic violence?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: We hope that whoever wins the election will commit to this funding. Of course, we've signed this agreement with the Tasmanian Government but I can't speak for the Liberal National Party of whether they would seek to rip up this agreement. I hope they don't. But this is our clear commitment to making a difference when it comes to these issues.
KYLIE BAXTER: And have you had any closed door meetings in the past few days or week in relation to an election date?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Oh, look, I have to be honest, election dates are above my pay grade. So, no, I can't, I can't give you the inside scoop today. Unfortunately there is one person that I don't know if he's made up his mind yet, but one person that knows when that election is, and that's our Prime Minister.
KYLIE BAXTER: Thank you very much for your time. Appreciate you coming on the Drive program.