NSW budget allocates $100m for women’s safety
New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet (centre right) and MP Natalie Ward (centre left) announced a $100 million budget for women’s safety in New South Wales. Picture: Facebook
By ERIN MODARO
The New South Wales Government committed to a $100 million budget to improve women’s safety in public spaces and at home. The budget will include a $30 million allocation that will go towards improving street lighting and CCTV cameras in public places, with the project’s target locations being at The Rocks and Parramatta.
Minister of Women’s Security and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Nathalie Ward said in a social media post that the $30 million was intended to “prevent harassment on our local streets.”
Minister Ward told a press conference today that the NSW Government is ‘making sure we listen to women and girls and deliver safer cities’.
Proud to be joined by the @MarkSpeakman to announce an additional $69.6 million from the Perrottet government for victims of domestic and family violence.
I particularly thank Amanda Morgan who is a victim-survivor and founder of Make a Seat Australia for her continued advocacy. pic.twitter.com/3MZKasInX4
— Natalie Ward (@natwardmlc) June 18, 2022
New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet said ‘this investment today of over $100 million will make a real difference to women and girls across New South Wales’ .
“Wherever you live in our great state, you should feel safe and be safe.”
Workplace harassment and domestic violence must be addressed in the budget
The budget will also address women’s rights in the workplace, with $4.8 million earmarked to fund a “Respect in the Workplace Task Force” to prevent sexual harassment in workplaces.
Another $69 million will go towards improving support systems for victims of domestic violence, under a project called “safer pathways.”
The New South Wales premier has also called a statistic that one in six women in Australia have been sexually harassed or abused by a current or previous partner a “travesty”.
@DV_NSW were honored to be present at this announcement today. With limited on-the-ground services, we need all the financial support we can get to improve women’s safety. https://t.co/q0NhbYzXYh
— Domestic ViolenceNSW (@DV_NSW) June 18, 2022
