Federal Budget: Victim survivors of family and gender-based violence deserve better during a national crisis

Safe and Equal recognises the government’s commitment to ending family and gender-based violence in last night’s 2025-26 Federal Budget and its overall investment to date. However, amid a national crisis, limited new and additional funding was announced to help victim survivors or the sector working to support them. 

Investments in improving access in the family law system for victim survivors and addressing family, domestic and sexual violence for First Nations communities are both welcome. In addition, the Budget makes important and significant commitments to women’s healthcare – including more affordable access to contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapy and IVF treatment.  

However, this year’s Budget provides little new investment needed to address Australia’s escalating family and gender-based violence crisis, including no new investment in services and interventions for those using violence. 

“Victim survivors deserve better. Women and children deserve better. It’s disappointing that the Commonwealth Government decided to address the cost of beer rather than increase support for victim survivors,” says Safe and Equal CEO Tania Farha. 

The 2025-26 Budget was heavily focused on cost-of-living relief; however, there was no recognition of the significant impact this crisis has on victim survivors. 

“We know that during a financial crisis, rates of family and gender-based violence increase,” says Ms Farha.  

“Frontline services report spikes in demand, and dramatic increases in everyday costs make it even more difficult for victim survivors to safely escape abuse and recover.”  

With a federal election to be called imminently, Safe and Equal is calling for all parties to keep victim survivors of family violence on the national agenda and front of mind as Australia heads to the polls. 

Specifically, the Victorian family violence peak body has three key asks it wants all parties to prioritise in their election platforms: 

1. Increase investment in frontline specialist family violence services. 
2. Increase investment in primary prevention and early intervention initiatives.
3. Address the ongoing housing crisis. 

Ms Farha says that given the scale of the issue, what is currently on the table to address family and gender-based violence is not enough. 

“Last year was a horror year for women in Australia, with at least 101 women killed in entirely preventable acts of violence – and we seem to be following a similar trajectory this year.”

“Outside of these deaths, rates of family violence remain disturbingly high. This is an issue that impacts us all, whether directly or indirectly – and we need bold and brave action from our federal leaders,” says Ms Farha. 

“We hear the stories; we know the data. Life-saving frontline family violence services are struggling under immense demand. There’s not enough long-term, affordable housing available for victim survivors, meaning family violence remains the leading cause of homelessness for women and children in Australia.”

“This demands action at the highest level.” 

Additionally, primary prevention and early intervention – that is, stopping violence before it starts, escalates or recurs – must remain on the federal agenda. More attention and investment is required for these critical components as part of a comprehensive approach to ending family and gender-based violence. 

“Supporting primary prevention and early intervention initiatives are equally as important as investing in crisis and recovery responses – they’re part of the same continuum of work needed to achieve the goal set out in the current National Plan of ending gender-based violence in a generation,” says Ms Farha. 

“Preventing violence is a long game, and to do this work effectively we need sustainable planning and investment across the nation, rather than just piecemeal handouts.” 

“Meaningfully addressing family violence requires a national, coordinated approach; one that provides adequate investment across the board and recognises that change takes time – it’s never going to be a ‘one-and-done’ exercise,” says Ms Farha. 

“At the end of the day, this isn’t about politics. Victim survivors and the people working to support them just want and deserve action and investment from our leaders – regardless of which side of the room it comes from.” 

CONTACT INFORMATION 

Name: Melanie Scammell, Media and Communications Advisor, Safe and Equal 

Email: media@safeandequal.org.au 

Phone: 0425 832 511 

About Safe and Equal 

Safe and Equal is the peak body for Victorian organisations that specialise in family and gender-based violence across the continuum, including primary prevention, early intervention, response and recovery.