Domestic violence victims have Regional Services Minister Mark Coulton in their corner as a supporter, with the Parkes MP confirming the issue has been raised in "numerous" conversations with constituents in his electorate during the past 11 years.
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Mr Coulton says he "whole-heartedly" supports those who have fallen victim to domestic violence related assaults, which increased by 63.4 per cent in the Dubbo Regional Council area in a recent 24-month period.
"A culture of disrespect towards women is a precursor to violence, which is why the coalition government is investing so heavily in prevention, to stop violence before it begins," Mr Coulton said.
"This is about changing attitudes to violence and helping those who think violence is an option, to stop."
Mr Coulton said his government was pleased to provide $1.1 million to the Western NSW Community Legal Centre in Dubbo, so it could offer legal assistance and other support services to women who were experiencing domestic violence.
"The coalition government has made the largest ever Commonwealth investment of $328 million towards the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children," he said.
Mr Coulton says $78 million will be spent providing emergency accommodation to women and children fleeing family violence, $68 million will go towards prevention strategies to stop violence before it occurs and $64 million will be injected into counselling.
"We will provide further funding of $82 million to successful frontline services in local communities and $35 million in Indigenous-led support and prevention measures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities," he said.
"This work builds on previous efforts by our government, including banning the direct cross-examination of women by their alleged perpetrator during family law proceedings, the introduction of domestic violence leave, extending early release of superannuation on compassionate grounds to survivors, providing no interest loans to 45,000 women experiencing family and domestic violence and issuing over 7000 visas for women and children overseas needing safe refuge."
Since 2013, the government has spent more than $840 million to protect and support domestic violence victims, and prevent the crime from occurring, Mr Coulton says.
