Victim-survivors of family violence won’t be helped by Liberal cuts  

Right to Information documents and government reports reveal as rates of family violence and demand for support in Tasmania increase, State Government funding is being cut from services victim-survivors rely on. 

The documents show that as at 31 March 2026, the number of family violence applications lodged had increased by 11 per cent from 1,685 to 1,871 compared to the same time last year. In the five years to 30 June 2025, applications have increased by 63 per cent from 1,370 in 2019-20, to 2,236 in 2024-25.

Despite this, funding will be cut from the already over-stretched services, Safe at Home, Tasmania Legal Aid, the Women’s Legal Service and its nationally recognised Health Justice Program.  

Eric Abetz’ Budget shows that Safe at Home will receive 35 per cent less funding in 2029-30 than it did in 2025-26. The Women and the Prevention of Family Violence budget output will receive 20 per cent less funding over the same period. These cuts are even worse when inflation is factored in.

The 2026 Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management Corporate Performance Report also shows a considerable increase in family violence incidents, and incidents with a child witness.  

The 2026/27 Tasmanian Gender Budget Statement shows Tasmanian women experience violence, sexual harassment and stalking at higher rates than the national average.  

An independent review commissioned by Tasmania Police shows family violence dispatch incidents have more than doubled over the past decade, and the number of child victims is rising.  

The Rockliff Government is choosing to ignore its own data and cut funding to frontline services before prevention programs have had the chance to reduce demand.  

These callous cuts will leave victim-survivors, including a growing number of children, without the services they need. 

After 13 years of Liberal waste, Premier Rockliff has put Eric Abetz in charge of balancing the books on the backs of Tasmania’s most vulnerable.