Waleed Aly‘s blistering editorial on the level of funding and attention the Government pays to the prevention and support of Domestic Violence in Australia was a sobering and extremely important in-depth look at the issue – the likes of which is rarely seen on Australian broadcast television, much less the free-to-air networks.
Not content to simply file the report and move on with the regular to-ings and fro-ings of the show, Aly continued his push on the subject on The Project last night, grilling Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull in the Liberal MPs post-Budget appearance.
The Government’s allocation of a mere $30million in funding for domestic violence – most of which has been allocated to an awareness campaign, and not to any organisations in a position to physically help and effect change – was the subject of great scrutiny during the interview, with Turnbull seemingly agreeing with all the points Aly and co-host Gorgi Coghlan were making, but remaining hand-bound to the party line.
Despite Malcolm’s insistence that it’s the media that needs to act as the megaphone, the stats remain bleak.
23 women have been murdered at the hands of a current or former partner this year alone.
423 people – many women and children fleeing domestic violence situations – are turned away from homeless shelters every night.
150,000 people were turned away from community legal services last year.
And the Abbott Government has allocated merely $30million towards fighting this issue – most of which is destined for an “awareness campaign.” In the same budget, they allocated $1.2billion towards counter-terrorism.
It is, simply put, not good enough.
If you need support for domestic violence, call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visit www.whiteribbon.org.au
