100,000 people have accessed this payment. Now, it's being made permanent
More than 100,000 people have accessed up to $5000 each in financial help to leave violent relationships over the past four years, with the program set to become permanent from July.
The two-year Escaping Violence Payment trial – which was introduced in October 2021 under the Coalition – was extended by the Labor government and will be made permanent under the new Leaving Violence Program.
From next week, victim-survivors who are planning to leave, or have recently left, a violent intimate partner relationship will be eligible to receive up to $5000 in financial support.
As many as one in four women in Australia and one in 14 men experience violence by an intimate partner from the age of 15. A report this month by the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health revealed about one in three men had used a form of intimate partner violence as an adult.
An evaluation of the Escaping Violence Payment trial in 2023 found nine out of 10 people who received the payment were women and more than a quarter were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The average amount accessed was $4224 – including a cap of $1500 in cash and the rest in goods, services and support such as counselling and legal services.
Economic insecurity is a major barrier for many people looking to leave a violent partner, especially women.
While women's workforce participation in Australia has grown over the years, the proportion of women employed is about six in 10 compared with nearly seven in 10 men, the Australian Bureau of Statistics says. Women are also more likely to work part-time and earn less, often putting them in a more vulnerable position.
An ABS survey in 2021-22 of 1.5 million women who had experienced violence by a previous partner showed roughly two in five had separated. Of these, one in five returned to their partners because of a lack of financial resources.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the Leaving Violence Program would make it easier for women to leave violent relationships safely, and to provide for their family.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
41 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
State Liberals hit back at critics and launch campaign
Embattled Premier Jeremy Rockliff has hit back at growing criticism of his government's budget management as he formally launches his campaign to recapture the hearts, minds and votes of Tasmanians. The island state heads to the polls next month after parliament declared no confidence in the Liberal minority leader in early June. It will be Tasmania's second election in successive years and the fourth since 2018. Debt is the number one issue, with the dissenting opposition and crossbench lashing Mr Rockliff over his handling of the state's finances. Figures released last week by treasury forecast a worse position than estimated in the May 2025/26 state budget, with net debt to reach $13 billion in 2027/28, above the budget forecast of $10.2 billion. It called for "explicit policy choices", warning the rate of debt growth was unsustainable. Mr Rockliff will head to Tasmania's north on Sunday to officially hit "go" on his re-election bid. However, in an attempt to beat him to the punch, Labor leader Dean Winter on Saturday unveiled plans to immediately find $1 billion in savings if he wins power and to put any windfall tax revenue gains towards debt reduction. Mr Rockliff immediately dismissed the move as "a recycling of a number of policies already in existence". "His plan to 'maximise government business profits' means higher charges, including increased car rego and power prices," he said. "The truth is Mr Winter will increase taxes." The major parties also traded barbs on Saturday on support for the proposed Marinus Link project. The undersea electricity and data connector would link Tasmania's northwest with Victoria's Latrobe Valley and allow the smaller state to import surplus solar while exporting hydropower to the mainland grid where it could help reduce the risk of brownouts. "After promising the project for 11 years - and delivering nothing - Jeremy Rockliff is now unsure whether he supports it," according to opposition energy spokeswoman Janie Finley. Government counterpart Nick Duigan accused Mr Winter of wanting to "trade away" Tasmania's economic future by forfeiting a seat at the Marinus table and leaving Victoria to call the shots in any deal. The Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) face an uphill battle to reach the 18-seat mark required to govern in head to the polls on July 19. Embattled Premier Jeremy Rockliff has hit back at growing criticism of his government's budget management as he formally launches his campaign to recapture the hearts, minds and votes of Tasmanians. The island state heads to the polls next month after parliament declared no confidence in the Liberal minority leader in early June. It will be Tasmania's second election in successive years and the fourth since 2018. Debt is the number one issue, with the dissenting opposition and crossbench lashing Mr Rockliff over his handling of the state's finances. Figures released last week by treasury forecast a worse position than estimated in the May 2025/26 state budget, with net debt to reach $13 billion in 2027/28, above the budget forecast of $10.2 billion. It called for "explicit policy choices", warning the rate of debt growth was unsustainable. Mr Rockliff will head to Tasmania's north on Sunday to officially hit "go" on his re-election bid. However, in an attempt to beat him to the punch, Labor leader Dean Winter on Saturday unveiled plans to immediately find $1 billion in savings if he wins power and to put any windfall tax revenue gains towards debt reduction. Mr Rockliff immediately dismissed the move as "a recycling of a number of policies already in existence". "His plan to 'maximise government business profits' means higher charges, including increased car rego and power prices," he said. "The truth is Mr Winter will increase taxes." The major parties also traded barbs on Saturday on support for the proposed Marinus Link project. The undersea electricity and data connector would link Tasmania's northwest with Victoria's Latrobe Valley and allow the smaller state to import surplus solar while exporting hydropower to the mainland grid where it could help reduce the risk of brownouts. "After promising the project for 11 years - and delivering nothing - Jeremy Rockliff is now unsure whether he supports it," according to opposition energy spokeswoman Janie Finley. Government counterpart Nick Duigan accused Mr Winter of wanting to "trade away" Tasmania's economic future by forfeiting a seat at the Marinus table and leaving Victoria to call the shots in any deal. The Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) face an uphill battle to reach the 18-seat mark required to govern in head to the polls on July 19. Embattled Premier Jeremy Rockliff has hit back at growing criticism of his government's budget management as he formally launches his campaign to recapture the hearts, minds and votes of Tasmanians. The island state heads to the polls next month after parliament declared no confidence in the Liberal minority leader in early June. It will be Tasmania's second election in successive years and the fourth since 2018. Debt is the number one issue, with the dissenting opposition and crossbench lashing Mr Rockliff over his handling of the state's finances. Figures released last week by treasury forecast a worse position than estimated in the May 2025/26 state budget, with net debt to reach $13 billion in 2027/28, above the budget forecast of $10.2 billion. It called for "explicit policy choices", warning the rate of debt growth was unsustainable. Mr Rockliff will head to Tasmania's north on Sunday to officially hit "go" on his re-election bid. However, in an attempt to beat him to the punch, Labor leader Dean Winter on Saturday unveiled plans to immediately find $1 billion in savings if he wins power and to put any windfall tax revenue gains towards debt reduction. Mr Rockliff immediately dismissed the move as "a recycling of a number of policies already in existence". "His plan to 'maximise government business profits' means higher charges, including increased car rego and power prices," he said. "The truth is Mr Winter will increase taxes." The major parties also traded barbs on Saturday on support for the proposed Marinus Link project. The undersea electricity and data connector would link Tasmania's northwest with Victoria's Latrobe Valley and allow the smaller state to import surplus solar while exporting hydropower to the mainland grid where it could help reduce the risk of brownouts. "After promising the project for 11 years - and delivering nothing - Jeremy Rockliff is now unsure whether he supports it," according to opposition energy spokeswoman Janie Finley. Government counterpart Nick Duigan accused Mr Winter of wanting to "trade away" Tasmania's economic future by forfeiting a seat at the Marinus table and leaving Victoria to call the shots in any deal. The Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) face an uphill battle to reach the 18-seat mark required to govern in head to the polls on July 19. Embattled Premier Jeremy Rockliff has hit back at growing criticism of his government's budget management as he formally launches his campaign to recapture the hearts, minds and votes of Tasmanians. The island state heads to the polls next month after parliament declared no confidence in the Liberal minority leader in early June. It will be Tasmania's second election in successive years and the fourth since 2018. Debt is the number one issue, with the dissenting opposition and crossbench lashing Mr Rockliff over his handling of the state's finances. Figures released last week by treasury forecast a worse position than estimated in the May 2025/26 state budget, with net debt to reach $13 billion in 2027/28, above the budget forecast of $10.2 billion. It called for "explicit policy choices", warning the rate of debt growth was unsustainable. Mr Rockliff will head to Tasmania's north on Sunday to officially hit "go" on his re-election bid. However, in an attempt to beat him to the punch, Labor leader Dean Winter on Saturday unveiled plans to immediately find $1 billion in savings if he wins power and to put any windfall tax revenue gains towards debt reduction. Mr Rockliff immediately dismissed the move as "a recycling of a number of policies already in existence". "His plan to 'maximise government business profits' means higher charges, including increased car rego and power prices," he said. "The truth is Mr Winter will increase taxes." The major parties also traded barbs on Saturday on support for the proposed Marinus Link project. The undersea electricity and data connector would link Tasmania's northwest with Victoria's Latrobe Valley and allow the smaller state to import surplus solar while exporting hydropower to the mainland grid where it could help reduce the risk of brownouts. "After promising the project for 11 years - and delivering nothing - Jeremy Rockliff is now unsure whether he supports it," according to opposition energy spokeswoman Janie Finley. Government counterpart Nick Duigan accused Mr Winter of wanting to "trade away" Tasmania's economic future by forfeiting a seat at the Marinus table and leaving Victoria to call the shots in any deal. The Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) face an uphill battle to reach the 18-seat mark required to govern in head to the polls on July 19.
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Perth Now
State Liberals hit back at critics and launch campaign
Embattled Premier Jeremy Rockliff has hit back at growing criticism of his government's budget management as he formally launches his campaign to recapture the hearts, minds and votes of Tasmanians. The island state heads to the polls next month after parliament declared no confidence in the Liberal minority leader in early June. It will be Tasmania's second election in successive years and the fourth since 2018. Debt is the number one issue, with the dissenting opposition and crossbench lashing Mr Rockliff over his handling of the state's finances. Figures released last week by treasury forecast a worse position than estimated in the May 2025/26 state budget, with net debt to reach $13 billion in 2027/28, above the budget forecast of $10.2 billion. It called for "explicit policy choices", warning the rate of debt growth was unsustainable. Mr Rockliff will head to Tasmania's north on Sunday to officially hit "go" on his re-election bid. However, in an attempt to beat him to the punch, Labor leader Dean Winter on Saturday unveiled plans to immediately find $1 billion in savings if he wins power and to put any windfall tax revenue gains towards debt reduction. Mr Rockliff immediately dismissed the move as "a recycling of a number of policies already in existence". "His plan to 'maximise government business profits' means higher charges, including increased car rego and power prices," he said. "The truth is Mr Winter will increase taxes." The major parties also traded barbs on Saturday on support for the proposed Marinus Link project. The undersea electricity and data connector would link Tasmania's northwest with Victoria's Latrobe Valley and allow the smaller state to import surplus solar while exporting hydropower to the mainland grid where it could help reduce the risk of brownouts. "After promising the project for 11 years - and delivering nothing - Jeremy Rockliff is now unsure whether he supports it," according to opposition energy spokeswoman Janie Finley. Government counterpart Nick Duigan accused Mr Winter of wanting to "trade away" Tasmania's economic future by forfeiting a seat at the Marinus table and leaving Victoria to call the shots in any deal. The Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) face an uphill battle to reach the 18-seat mark required to govern in majority. Tasmanians head to the polls on July 19.
Sydney Morning Herald
7 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
100,000 people have accessed this payment. Now, it's being made permanent
More than 100,000 people have accessed up to $5000 each in financial help to leave violent relationships over the past four years, with the program set to become permanent from July. The two-year Escaping Violence Payment trial – which was introduced in October 2021 under the Coalition – was extended by the Labor government and will be made permanent under the new Leaving Violence Program. From next week, victim-survivors who are planning to leave, or have recently left, a violent intimate partner relationship will be eligible to receive up to $5000 in financial support. As many as one in four women in Australia and one in 14 men experience violence by an intimate partner from the age of 15. A report this month by the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health revealed about one in three men had used a form of intimate partner violence as an adult. An evaluation of the Escaping Violence Payment trial in 2023 found nine out of 10 people who received the payment were women and more than a quarter were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The average amount accessed was $4224 – including a cap of $1500 in cash and the rest in goods, services and support such as counselling and legal services. Economic insecurity is a major barrier for many people looking to leave a violent partner, especially women. While women's workforce participation in Australia has grown over the years, the proportion of women employed is about six in 10 compared with nearly seven in 10 men, the Australian Bureau of Statistics says. Women are also more likely to work part-time and earn less, often putting them in a more vulnerable position. An ABS survey in 2021-22 of 1.5 million women who had experienced violence by a previous partner showed roughly two in five had separated. Of these, one in five returned to their partners because of a lack of financial resources. Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the Leaving Violence Program would make it easier for women to leave violent relationships safely, and to provide for their family.
