Over one third of the near half billion dollars the NSW Government has just committed to the fight against domestic violence will be invested in regional areas like the Clarence and Richmond Valleys, Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis has revealed, after being briefed on the initiative by the State’s Minister for Women.

“There is a pandemic of domestic and family violence out there, with the NSW Police Force getting more than 140,000 calls for help each year and, on average, one Australian woman being killed by a partner every nine days,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“That explains new Premier Dom Perrottett’s decision to invest a record $484 million to wage war on the crisis and Nationals Deputy Leader and Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor just told me she had been able to secure more than a third of that funding for regional New South Wales.”

Mr Gulaptis said that would translate into better and safer outcomes for abused women and children in the Clarence and Richmond Valleys.

“The bulk of the funding is for women’s refuges, the locations of which cannot be revealed for security reasons,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“The bottom line for perpetrators is that if you hit or abuse a woman or a child, you are not a man, you are a criminal and we’re coming after you big time.”

Premier Dominic Perrottett said he had decided on the single biggest investment in tackling domestic and family violence in the State’s history because everyone has the right to live a life free from violence and abuse.

“That is a right that is far too often callously eroded by those who perpetrate domestic violence,” Mr Perrottett said. 

Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said DFV is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children, illustrating the high demand for these critical services.

“One of the most important things we can do in government is to ensure that when a victim-survivor makes the courageous decision to leave a violent home – a time when she actually faces the greatest risk – that there’s a secure, supportive environment waiting to help her,” Mrs Taylor said.

For confidential advice, support and referrals, contact: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), The NSW Domestic Violence Line (1800 65 64 63), NSW Rape Crisis (1800 424 017) or Men’s Referral Service (1300 766 491). In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).