Women’s Legal Services Australia: ‘A step backwards’
Women’s Legal Services Australia is one such organisation that will suffer as a result of the lack of investment in frontline services for women’s safety. Elena Rosenman, the Chair of Women’s Legal Services Australia, described it as a “step backwards” for the female-dominated workforce of the community legal sector.
“This Budget means many women’s legal services will have to start planning to reduce services to women experiencing gender-based violence. This includes legal assistance for women separating from violent partners, specialist Domestic Violence Units, Health Justice Partnerships and sexual harassment legal services,” Rosenman said.
“We are deeply concerned that the Albanese Government has completely overlooked the critical work of women’s legal services. We are already forced to turn away over 52,000 women every year due to lack of adequate resources.
“If we are asking Australian women to trust that the system will be there for them when they flee a violent relationship, we must ensure they can access the trauma-informed, integrated legal services they need.
“The solicitors, social workers, First Nations caseworkers, and financial counsellors who work in frontline women’s legal services are exposed to significant trauma. They deserve to be paid appropriately for their contribution to our community.”
People with Disability: ‘Completely invisible’
President of peak disability body People with Disability Australia (PWDA) Marayke Jonkers said women with disability who experience violence were “completely invisible” in the federal budget.
“There’s nothing that recognises the unique forms of violence experienced by women with disability or prioritises accessible and targeted responses to end the violence we endure at twice the rate,” Jonkers said.
“The gaps in the Leaving Violence Program for women with disability is emblematic of this.”
On the whole, Jonkers said the organisation missed an opportunity to implement recommendations made by the Disability Royal Commission to better support people with disability.
“People with disability are tired of incremental change. We need a total overhaul of housing, education, health and the systems we rely on for support and to fully participate in the community,” she said.
Source: What advocacy groups are saying about this year’s budget