Our Watch welcomes a range of measures announced in yesterday’s Federal Budget designed to contribute to gender equality and address violence against women.
Key measures include a Commonwealth Government investment of an additional $589.3 million for women’s safety to support implementation of the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children. This includes $194 million to support the appropriate focus on, and commitment to, the development and implementation of the first dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan under the National Plan.
Our Watch will continue to play an important role under the National Plan, reaching people directly by developing and sharing new primary prevention knowledge, policy, practice and campaigns, along with continuing our partnerships and collaboration to extend our reach and impact.
Our Watch also welcomes the ongoing commitment by the Commonwealth Government to applying a gender lens across policy making and budget decisions, which is reflected in yesterday’s Budget. Putting gender equality and women at the centre of budget decisions and policy-making is an important part of the leadership and modelling governments can do to contribute to gender equality.
There are a number of areas in which Our Watch looks forward to additional information and discussions, for example, the ongoing commitment to develop and release a National Gender Equality Strategy. Our Watch looks forward to hearing more about how the Strategy and its key priorities and actions will be implemented.
Our Watch remains dedicated to our role in embedding gender equality and preventing violence against women where Australians live, learn, work and socialise. We are committed to working alongside the government, communities, and other stakeholders to achieve lasting change and build a society where all women are respected, empowered, and safe.
Media contact
Please contact media@ourwatch.org.au or 0448 844 930.
*If you cover this story, or any story regarding violence against women and children, please include the following tagline:
“If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.”
To access guides for reporting about violence against women and their children, visit Media Making Change.
About Our Watch
Our Watch is a national leader in Australia’s work to stop violence against women and their children before it starts. The organisation was created to drive nation-wide change in the practices, norms, and structures that lead to violence against women and children.
