Funding for one of Tasmania’s main family violence services is on track to fall by more than a third within four years, as demand for help reaches record levels.
Budget papers show spending on Safe at Home, the state’s coordinated family violence response, will drop from $7.6 million in 2025-26 to just under $5 million in 2029-30 – a fall of 35%.
Most of the decline comes after 2026-27, when funding linked to the state’s current family violence action plan is due to expire.
It comes as demand continues to rise. Right to Information documents cited by Labor show family violence applications rose 11% in the year to March 31, from 1,685 to 1,871. Applications have jumped 63% over five years.
Safe at Home coordinates police, courts and support workers to help keep victim-survivors safe in their own homes.
“While demand on family violence services is increasing across Tasmania, the funding that those services need is decreasing,” Labor MP and shadow attorney-general Ella Haddad said.
“This is the result of Eric Abetz, as treasurer, taking money out of the budget to make up for 13 years of Liberal Party waste.”
Labor MP and shadow prevention of family and sexual violence minister Meg Brown said services were already at their limit.
“They are stretched thin. They are already at breaking point now,” she said.
“With decreased funding, they are not going to be able to keep up with victim-survivors.”
The state government rejected claims it was cutting services.
A government spokesperson said this year’s budget included an extra $450,000 for the Keeping Women Safe program and an additional $2 million for Tasmania Legal Aid.
They said the decline in Safe at Home funding reflected a joint agreement with the Commonwealth that expires on June 30, 2027 and that the state was negotiating to extend it.
“… Continuation of this program is contingent on the continuation of Australian government funding,” the spokesperson said.
The budget papers note the higher 2025-26 figure includes one-off funding linked to the current family violence action plan, which runs until 2027.
The federal government separately announced $16.5 million for family, domestic and sexual violence initiatives in Tasmania this month.
That includes $14.8 million to continue the 500 Workers Initiative until 2030, keeping 33 frontline workers in place and a further $1.7 million for a program working with men in prison to stop using violence.
If you or someone you know is affected by family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au. In an emergency, call Triple-Zero (000).
