Leaving Violence Program made permanent as trial helps 100,000 people flee intimate partner violence
A trial program that has helped more than 100,000 people leave violent partners will become a permanent fixture from Tuesday.
The Leaving Violence Program will give victim-survivors access to up to $5000 in financial support, and will be available to those who are planning to leave or have recently left a violent intimate partner relationship.
It builds on the success of the Federal Government's two-year Escaping Violence Payment trial, which saw more than 100,000 people access the payment.
'We want women fleeing violence to know that financial support is available,' Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said.
One of many who accessed the trial was a woman who fled a former relationship after noticing behaviours she described as becoming progressively more controlling.
She fled her ex-partner after he assaulted her, and then threatened to kill her if she went to the police, driving to a new city in the middle of the night with her cat.
Fearing for her safety, the woman slept in her car for several days.
It wasn't until she was dropping her cat off to a carer that she was told about the EVP trial.
Her application was accepted. Once engaged with the service, the woman was supported in seeking help from her GP, finding new accommodation and managing her finances with assistance of the payment.
The trial has helped tens of thousands of other women secure accommodation, pay rent, buy food and other household goods, as well as school uniforms and supplies.
Ms Plibersek said making the program permanent will help women feel supported to safely leave violent relationships.
'People often ask, 'Why doesn't she leave?' What we should ask is, 'Where would she go?' and 'What help is available?',' Ms Plibersek said.
Economic insecurity is a key barrier to people leaving violent partners.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics' 2021-22 Personal Safety Survey estimates more than a quarter of Australian women have experienced violence, emotional abuse or economic abuse by a cohabiting partner.
Of those women, almost one in five experienced economic abuse.
The new National Partnership Agreement on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses 2025 will also begin on Tuesday.
Delivered with State and Territory governments, the renewed partnership will deliver more than $700 million in new, matched investments from the Commonwealth, States and Territories.
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West Australian
6 hours ago
- West Australian
Leaving Violence Program made permanent as trial helps 100,000 people flee intimate partner violence
A trial program that has helped more than 100,000 people leave violent partners will become a permanent fixture from Tuesday. The Leaving Violence Program will give victim-survivors access to up to $5000 in financial support, and will be available to those who are planning to leave or have recently left a violent intimate partner relationship. It builds on the success of the Federal Government's two-year Escaping Violence Payment trial, which saw more than 100,000 people access the payment. 'We want women fleeing violence to know that financial support is available,' Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said. One of many who accessed the trial was a woman who fled a former relationship after noticing behaviours she described as becoming progressively more controlling. She fled her ex-partner after he assaulted her, and then threatened to kill her if she went to the police, driving to a new city in the middle of the night with her cat. Fearing for her safety, the woman slept in her car for several days. It wasn't until she was dropping her cat off to a carer that she was told about the EVP trial. Her application was accepted. Once engaged with the service, the woman was supported in seeking help from her GP, finding new accommodation and managing her finances with assistance of the payment. The trial has helped tens of thousands of other women secure accommodation, pay rent, buy food and other household goods, as well as school uniforms and supplies. Ms Plibersek said making the program permanent will help women feel supported to safely leave violent relationships. 'People often ask, 'Why doesn't she leave?' What we should ask is, 'Where would she go?' and 'What help is available?',' Ms Plibersek said. Economic insecurity is a key barrier to people leaving violent partners. The Australian Bureau of Statistics' 2021-22 Personal Safety Survey estimates more than a quarter of Australian women have experienced violence, emotional abuse or economic abuse by a cohabiting partner. Of those women, almost one in five experienced economic abuse. The new National Partnership Agreement on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses 2025 will also begin on Tuesday. Delivered with State and Territory governments, the renewed partnership will deliver more than $700 million in new, matched investments from the Commonwealth, States and Territories. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) MensLine Australia 1300 789 978
The Advertiser
15 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Greens candidate undergoes surgery after protest arrest
A Greens candidate who challenged Anthony Albanese at the May federal election is in hospital after being arrested at a protest, as police face brutality claims. Five people were arrested while protesting Israel's war in Gaza outside an Australian firm linked to the manufacturing of fighter jets used by the IDF. Hannah Thomas, 35, who was the Greens candidate for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's seat of Grayndler, was taken to hospital with facial injuries suffered in the process of her arrest. A photo of Ms Thomas in an ambulance shows her eye swollen shut and with blood on her face before she was taken for surgery. Video of the incident shows multiple police dragging one of the protesters as on-lookers repeatedly shouted "get off her" and "let go of her". Police said matters escalated after officers issued a move-on direction to a group of 60 protesters who had blocked pedestrian access to SEC Plating in Belmore in Sydney's southwest early Friday morning. They said Ms Thomas was arrested for not complying with that direction. NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson labelled the policing "excessive" and "unnecessary" and called for an investigation "to avoid further horrific instances of innocent people being seriously injured". She has written to Police Minister Yasmin Catley, the NSW police commissioner and the state's police watchdog demanding the investigation. "Having witnessed the grievous injuries caused by the police to Hannah Thomas, spoken to on ground witnesses who witnessed what occurred, and with the knowledge that Hannah has experienced serious injuries and hospitalisation, I am calling for a critical incident to be declared urgently," Ms Higginson wrote in her letter. A police statement said the medical advice they had received about the incident did not meet the threshold for a critical incident declaration. "Should further medical advice be received, the decision can be reviewed," it said. Protest organisers say another protester was grabbed by the neck and choked, while others were knocked to the ground. SEC Plating is reportedly providing plating services for various parts used in F-35 jets, of which the Israeli military has about 40. Zack Schofield, a 26-year-old Rising Tide organiser who was arrested, said he was "objecting to genocide and the complicity of Australia in this". "The excessive force used by police was brutal and will be put into question," he said. Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi said Ms Thomas had been a "tireless advocate" for the tens of thousands of people killed in Palestine. "Hannah has long been a fearless and strong advocate for the rights of all people to live without oppression and occupation ... I am in awe of her courage and conviction in supporting people who need help," she said. The five arrested protesters were granted bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court on July 15. A Greens candidate who challenged Anthony Albanese at the May federal election is in hospital after being arrested at a protest, as police face brutality claims. Five people were arrested while protesting Israel's war in Gaza outside an Australian firm linked to the manufacturing of fighter jets used by the IDF. Hannah Thomas, 35, who was the Greens candidate for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's seat of Grayndler, was taken to hospital with facial injuries suffered in the process of her arrest. A photo of Ms Thomas in an ambulance shows her eye swollen shut and with blood on her face before she was taken for surgery. Video of the incident shows multiple police dragging one of the protesters as on-lookers repeatedly shouted "get off her" and "let go of her". Police said matters escalated after officers issued a move-on direction to a group of 60 protesters who had blocked pedestrian access to SEC Plating in Belmore in Sydney's southwest early Friday morning. They said Ms Thomas was arrested for not complying with that direction. NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson labelled the policing "excessive" and "unnecessary" and called for an investigation "to avoid further horrific instances of innocent people being seriously injured". She has written to Police Minister Yasmin Catley, the NSW police commissioner and the state's police watchdog demanding the investigation. "Having witnessed the grievous injuries caused by the police to Hannah Thomas, spoken to on ground witnesses who witnessed what occurred, and with the knowledge that Hannah has experienced serious injuries and hospitalisation, I am calling for a critical incident to be declared urgently," Ms Higginson wrote in her letter. A police statement said the medical advice they had received about the incident did not meet the threshold for a critical incident declaration. "Should further medical advice be received, the decision can be reviewed," it said. Protest organisers say another protester was grabbed by the neck and choked, while others were knocked to the ground. SEC Plating is reportedly providing plating services for various parts used in F-35 jets, of which the Israeli military has about 40. Zack Schofield, a 26-year-old Rising Tide organiser who was arrested, said he was "objecting to genocide and the complicity of Australia in this". "The excessive force used by police was brutal and will be put into question," he said. Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi said Ms Thomas had been a "tireless advocate" for the tens of thousands of people killed in Palestine. "Hannah has long been a fearless and strong advocate for the rights of all people to live without oppression and occupation ... I am in awe of her courage and conviction in supporting people who need help," she said. The five arrested protesters were granted bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court on July 15. A Greens candidate who challenged Anthony Albanese at the May federal election is in hospital after being arrested at a protest, as police face brutality claims. Five people were arrested while protesting Israel's war in Gaza outside an Australian firm linked to the manufacturing of fighter jets used by the IDF. Hannah Thomas, 35, who was the Greens candidate for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's seat of Grayndler, was taken to hospital with facial injuries suffered in the process of her arrest. A photo of Ms Thomas in an ambulance shows her eye swollen shut and with blood on her face before she was taken for surgery. Video of the incident shows multiple police dragging one of the protesters as on-lookers repeatedly shouted "get off her" and "let go of her". Police said matters escalated after officers issued a move-on direction to a group of 60 protesters who had blocked pedestrian access to SEC Plating in Belmore in Sydney's southwest early Friday morning. They said Ms Thomas was arrested for not complying with that direction. NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson labelled the policing "excessive" and "unnecessary" and called for an investigation "to avoid further horrific instances of innocent people being seriously injured". She has written to Police Minister Yasmin Catley, the NSW police commissioner and the state's police watchdog demanding the investigation. "Having witnessed the grievous injuries caused by the police to Hannah Thomas, spoken to on ground witnesses who witnessed what occurred, and with the knowledge that Hannah has experienced serious injuries and hospitalisation, I am calling for a critical incident to be declared urgently," Ms Higginson wrote in her letter. A police statement said the medical advice they had received about the incident did not meet the threshold for a critical incident declaration. "Should further medical advice be received, the decision can be reviewed," it said. Protest organisers say another protester was grabbed by the neck and choked, while others were knocked to the ground. SEC Plating is reportedly providing plating services for various parts used in F-35 jets, of which the Israeli military has about 40. Zack Schofield, a 26-year-old Rising Tide organiser who was arrested, said he was "objecting to genocide and the complicity of Australia in this". "The excessive force used by police was brutal and will be put into question," he said. Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi said Ms Thomas had been a "tireless advocate" for the tens of thousands of people killed in Palestine. "Hannah has long been a fearless and strong advocate for the rights of all people to live without oppression and occupation ... I am in awe of her courage and conviction in supporting people who need help," she said. The five arrested protesters were granted bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court on July 15. A Greens candidate who challenged Anthony Albanese at the May federal election is in hospital after being arrested at a protest, as police face brutality claims. Five people were arrested while protesting Israel's war in Gaza outside an Australian firm linked to the manufacturing of fighter jets used by the IDF. Hannah Thomas, 35, who was the Greens candidate for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's seat of Grayndler, was taken to hospital with facial injuries suffered in the process of her arrest. A photo of Ms Thomas in an ambulance shows her eye swollen shut and with blood on her face before she was taken for surgery. Video of the incident shows multiple police dragging one of the protesters as on-lookers repeatedly shouted "get off her" and "let go of her". Police said matters escalated after officers issued a move-on direction to a group of 60 protesters who had blocked pedestrian access to SEC Plating in Belmore in Sydney's southwest early Friday morning. They said Ms Thomas was arrested for not complying with that direction. NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson labelled the policing "excessive" and "unnecessary" and called for an investigation "to avoid further horrific instances of innocent people being seriously injured". She has written to Police Minister Yasmin Catley, the NSW police commissioner and the state's police watchdog demanding the investigation. "Having witnessed the grievous injuries caused by the police to Hannah Thomas, spoken to on ground witnesses who witnessed what occurred, and with the knowledge that Hannah has experienced serious injuries and hospitalisation, I am calling for a critical incident to be declared urgently," Ms Higginson wrote in her letter. A police statement said the medical advice they had received about the incident did not meet the threshold for a critical incident declaration. "Should further medical advice be received, the decision can be reviewed," it said. Protest organisers say another protester was grabbed by the neck and choked, while others were knocked to the ground. SEC Plating is reportedly providing plating services for various parts used in F-35 jets, of which the Israeli military has about 40. Zack Schofield, a 26-year-old Rising Tide organiser who was arrested, said he was "objecting to genocide and the complicity of Australia in this". "The excessive force used by police was brutal and will be put into question," he said. Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi said Ms Thomas had been a "tireless advocate" for the tens of thousands of people killed in Palestine. "Hannah has long been a fearless and strong advocate for the rights of all people to live without oppression and occupation ... I am in awe of her courage and conviction in supporting people who need help," she said. The five arrested protesters were granted bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court on July 15.
AU Financial Review
15 hours ago
- AU Financial Review
Greens candidate hospitalised after protest arrest
A Greens candidate who challenged Anthony Albanese at the May federal election is in hospital after being arrested at a protest, as police face brutality claims. Five people were arrested while protesting Israel's war in Gaza outside an Australian firm linked to the manufacturing of fighter jets used by the Israel Defence Forces.
