Labor promises $15.4m for 12 family and domestic violence refuge units in Geraldton if re-elected in 2025

Almost 40 per cent of a $38.6 million package proposed to tackle the scourge of family and domestic violence in the regions will go towards initiatives in Geraldton, according to WA Labor, if it retains government at the March State election. The Cook Government made the election promise on Monday to construct regionally based refuge units to help provide emergency accommodation to vulnerable victim-survivors and their children. On Wednesday, Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Sabine Winton was in Geraldton to announce up to 12 of 18 proposed new units for regional WA would be constructed in the Mid West city if Labor was re-elected. It is estimated the new units would house more than 50 people at any one time. There are four units in Geraldton to help victim-survivors, which are run through Desert Blue Connect. Ms Winton confirmed the funding would not only go towards construction, but helping families involved to improve their situations. “Refuges nowadays are very different to what they once were historically, and when you talk about wraparound services, that’s exactly what the new-looking refuges will look like,” she said. “As part of when we talk about 12 units, we’re talking about supporting 12 families at a time, not just in the security of having a safe bed, but all those wraparound services that you talk about in terms of supporting them to regain their lives.” On top of the $15.4m set for Geraldton, WA Labor has allocated $1.6m for the Safe at Home program to be established in the Mid West. Ms Winton said the program supported women and children to stay and feel safe in their homes. When asked why Labor was committing to the program instead of implementing it before the election, Ms Winton said the Government’s commitment to making family and domestic violence a priority was evident. She said over the past eight years, more than $550m had been put towards ending family and domestic violence, and refuge capacity had increased by about 30 per cent. Ms Winton said this commitment was the next step in combating domestic violence. “I’m pretty proud that our record in the two terms that we’ve had in government has been significant in family domestic violence, and this announcement reaffirms to West Australians, whether they live in a metropolitan area or in the regions, that our commitment to supporting victim-survivors of family domestic violence is ongoing,” she said. “(It) isn’t just at election time. We’ve got the record of half a billion dollars investing in two terms of government, and we will continue to have family domestic violence as a key priority of a future government if we’re re-elected.” A re-elected Labor Government would also force judges to consider imposing a lifetime family violence restraining order on domestic violence thugs, on top of tougher penalties of up to five years jail for breaches, and longer maximum penalties for existing offences. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)