By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A LOCAL MP has said Narre Warren South will be at the heart of the State Government’s response to the family violence Royal Commission.
After 13 months of interviews the Royal Commission’s 1900-page report was officially released on Wednesday 30 March, with the State Government promising to implement all 227 recommendations.
Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley welcomed the report, after having launched a Say NO to Family Violence campaign at local Berwick school Kambrya College last year.
“It is local families, it is our community that has suffered for too long from these terrible acts of violence and I wholeheartedly welcome this report and its recommendations,” Ms Graley said on Thursday.
“I have heard first-hand from victims and our support agencies about the difficulties many women and their families face when attempting to secure the assistance they need to be safe.”
Ms Graley, who made a submission to the Royal Commission, launched the local family violence campaign in June after damning Casey family violence statistics were released.
From April 2014 to March 2015 there were 3759 family incidents reported in the City of Casey compared to 3636 in the same period a year earlier – the most of any local government area.
Key recommendations in the report included the proposal of one-stop safety hubs and new victim safety laws, a rehousing program for victims, the call for more family violence courts, the proposal of an independent Family Violence Agency to hold governments to account, as well a focus on responses from local councils.
Following the report’s release, Premier Daniel Andrews said the Victorian Government would implement “every single one” of the recommendations, while Ms Graley also spoke of an “immediate boost in funding”.
“An immediate boost in funding for support services and the establishment of Support and Safety Hubs will make a very real difference for those who are in desperate need of help,” she said.
“With my strong interest in education I am strongly in favour of attempting to prevent family violence right across generations by rolling out innovative respectful relationships education in our schools.”
Casey North Community Information and Support Service manager Susan Magee said she was encouraged by the “comprehensive” response from the Royal Commission.
“The focus on a need to implement primary prevention strategies and encourage respectful relationships is applauded and it is hoped that there will be funding opportunities available to provide programs in the community for both women and men,” she said.
“The recognition of the connection between family violence and financial abuse and disadvantage and recommendations to address these issues are also welcomed.”
