General News
12 May, 2024
CWA address domestic violence
Delegates at the Country Women's Association (CWA) of NSW conference in Coffs Harbour have unanimously passed an urgency motion on measures to help counter rising rates of domestic and family violence.
Delegates at the Country Women's Association (CWA) of NSW conference in Coffs Harbour have unanimously passed an urgency motion on measures to help counter rising rates of domestic and family violence.
"This was the first issue we dealt with when the business sessions began this afternoon, recognising just how important this motion was to members," said Joy Beames, president of the CWA of NSW. "Members want to see immediate and meaningful action around current rates of domestic and family violence and we'll be strongly advocating for the measures we endorsed today."
The motion carried by members is:
That the policy of CWA of NSW be to call for the following measures to address identified issues in addressing domestic and family violence. Specifically, CWA of NSW calls for:
• an amendment to the NSW Bail Act to change the presumption of bail provisions to a default against bail for domestic and family violence offences and to advocate for further jurisdictional harmony in relation to presumption of bail laws nationally;
• all levels of government to prioritise sustainable funding models for domestic and family violence frontline victim support services to ensure stability and continuity in funding to meet the ongoing and increasing demand for assistance by victims of domestic violence;
• all levels of government to prioritise sustainable funding models for services that target perpetrator risk factors—such as mental health, alcohol, drugs and gambling addiction—known to contribute to domestic and family violence, enabling these services to meet the growing and persistent demand for assistance;
• the National Cabinet to expedite the establishment of a real-time system to record, track, and share domestic and family violence perpetrators across systems and jurisdictions.
