Media Release 20 May 2021
Women’s Refuge Excited With Budget Announcement On Increased Funding for Family Violence Prevention, Benefit Increases and Reinstatement of Training Incentive Allowances
Women’s Refuge Chief Executive Dr Ang Jury is delighted with today’s Budget announcement of increased funding for prevention and community leadership in family violence and sexual violence, benefit increases and reinstatement of the Training Incentive Allowance.
The Government’s commitment of $131.9 million over four years to the prevention and community leadership of family violence and sexual violence is long overdue recognition of the crisis that New Zealand is experiencing. Investment in kaupapa māori services aimed at the prevention of family and sexual violence has long been the missing element in the government’s programme.
The significant benefit increases will alleviate some of the pressure the women who access our services face when trying to build a life free from family and sexual violence. The restoration of a more realistic weekly benefit is a step in the right direction to reducing child poverty.
“The Prime Minister has spoken about working to restore the dignity of women living on benefits. This is a huge step towards that,” says Dr Ang Jury.
With the installation of a Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence after the 2020 election, there is long awaited traction at government level in the family violence and sexual violence space. This government is showing sustained commitment to eliminating New Zealand’s unacceptable rates of family violence.
