Australian Prime Minster Anthony Albanese has announced the Federal Government will invest $925 million over five years to help domestic violence victims with a new Leaving Violence Payment.
The government will also introduce new legislation to ban deep fake pornography under new measures to combat the shocking rate of gendered violence.
This comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared violence against women a “national emergency” at an urgent cabinet meeting on Wednesday, 1st May, following the killing of 27 women at the hands of men in Australia this year alone.
“Too many children are growing up with trauma, and too many children are growing up without their mums, and too many stories are ending in the same heartbreaking way,” says Anthony Albanese.
“If we want to change this, then all of us have to take responsibility.”
NEW Leaving Violence Payment for Domestic Violence Victims
This new payment announced by the Federal Government of up to $5,000, will assist domestic violence victims with the financial costs of escaping a violent home or domestic violence situation.
“Those eligible will be able to access up to $5,000 in financial support along with referral services, risk assessments and safety planning. This commitment builds on measures put in place by our government to help address financial barriers to escaping violence,” Anthony Albanese, PM
As for stricter bail conditions for violent offenders – the PM said those changes to bail laws will be led by Australia’s states and territories.
“What I heard from the premiers and chief ministers is the commitment to best practice, to examine what works, and they will work in a coordinated way to look at how they can deal with issues like our laws,” Anthony Albanese, PM
BANNED: Deep fake pornography and sharing explicit material using AI
The Federal Government also announced new legislation that will ban the creation and distribution of deep fake pornography, and the sharing of explicit material using artificial intelligence and other similar technology.
It also announced $6.5 million to go towards a tech pilot program to reduce children’s exposure to harmful content and pornography, and will bring forward legislation to outlaw doxxing, which is the release of private information online that intends to cause harm.
“Reducing this exposure to harmful and degrading pornography will better protect the women and children of Australia, and we will have more to say about our plans to strengthen online safety,” Communications Minister Michelle Rowland.
Why this is important
One woman is killed by her partner every four days on average in Australia.
One in three women has experienced sexual or physical violence since the age of 15.
For years, women have asked the federal and state governments to intervene and provide much-needed support to domestic violence victims. This new Leaving Violence Payment and new bans on AI-created pornography and harmful images are a step in the right direction.
As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in his statement on Wednesday:
“We are committed to dealing with these issues, and today we want to reach some important outcomes building on the work that governments have done to date but doing more because we know that not enough has been done.”
Know someone affected by domestic and family violence?
If you are experiencing abuse or violence, it is not your fault. There are support services that can help you. If your life is in danger, call 000. For 24/7 domestic violence counselling, contact the National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line on 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).
Men with anger, relationship, or parenting issues should contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or the Don’t Become That Man helpline on 1300 243 413.
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