REDLAND city will benefit from a $49million package of state funding to help victims of domestic violence and their families.
Minister for Women and Youth Shannon Fentiman, made the announcement when visiting Redlands to open the Working Against Violence Support Service.
“We are increasing local support services available in communities across the state, with funding of $49 million over five years," she said.
“We must make sure that when victims have the courage to speak out, we have the support services there to help them.
“The government will spend $66million this financial year alone on services to tackle domestic and family violence."
Capalaba MP Don Brown said the new support service would receive more than $2.3 million in extra funding over three years for services for the Redlands.
“We know that face-to-face contact can be so important for victims of domestic and family violence when they reach out for help,” Mr Brown said.
“This is one of the ways the Government is offering support, but it is also up to us as a community to stand up and say no to domestic and family violence.”
Last week, the state said it would fast-track key measures in the Not Now, Not Ever: Putting an End to Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland report by the Special Taskforce chaired by the Honourable Quentin Bryce.
It includes introducing legislation to increase penalties for perpetrators who breach domestic violence orders, along with giving victims special witness status so they do not have to give evidence in the same room as the alleged perpetrator.
The state will establish two 72-hour crisis shelters - in Brisbane and Townsville - for women and children escaping violence. A specialist Domestic Violence Court at Southport commenced in early September.
The Government’s response to the Not Now: Not Ever report includes a range of initiatives from education in schools, workplaces and homes, through to improvements to the health, police and justice responses, more coordinated help for victims, including greater information sharing and increasing perpetrator programs.
Cleveland MP Mark Robinson said he had pushed for additional resources for DV services in the Redlands since winning the seat in 2009.
"When the Bligh Government announced they would cut the funding for the Cleveland Court DV support services, I was outraged and stood up to them in the Parliament, resulting in the funding being returned,” he said.
"I am extremely pleased that my continued representations to successive ministers has seen this extra funding come to fruition."
