Investments to prevent persecution of abusive survivors ‘much needed’, says Peak Domestic Violence Group

The federal government on Friday pledged a $ 104 million funding package focused on technology programs, including the prevention of domestic violence devices.

The answer would involve more investment in controlling cell phones for spyware and disappearing homes for cameras to better protect survivors of abuse.

Full Stop Australia CEO Hayley Foster said that technological security – including prevention of tracking, stalking and espionage – was a critical area of ​​need for people at risk for this purpose.

“Right now, there’s a real issue around technological security around stalking, tracking and not just the offensive conversations that are happening online,” she told SBS News.

“But also around the use of technology to spy on someone – we need front-line support to support our customers.”

The latest investment includes $ 54.6 million to support up to 30,000 people who have suffered abuse, through security assessments focused on phone security and camera sweeps.

The Minister for Women’s Safety, Senator Anne Ruston, said the goal would be for more survivors of abuse to stay safe in their homes.

“What we have seen is that while victim survivors are able to use technology to make them safer – often it is the weapon of choice of the perpetrators,” she told reporters.

“We want to turn it around so that victim survivors get the benefit of the empowerment of technology.”

But Ms Foster said the reality at the moment is that the police do not have the resources to monitor the high level of demand for people who are at risk of monitoring the lives of abused partners.

She suggested that each respondent should also work with frontline services to assist survivors.

“We need to uproot the frontline sector to support customers, because we are the ones who see customers on the frontline day in and day out,” she said.

The funding commitment also includes $ 20 million to fund states and territories to attempt electronic surveillance of high-risk perpetrators.

It is based on an existing successful trial in Tasmania, where people with violent command (AVOs) against them – considered high-risk perpetrators – have put a surveillance system on them.

The survivor also gets a pendant for the police to monitor their locations via GPS and be alerted when the two people are in the same area.

This would allow police officers to assess whether there is potential for an escalation of violence and intervene.

Senator Ruston said studies of the program have seen a reduction of up to 70 to 80 percent in people who violate AVOs, as well as being punished after these are over.

“We hear all too often that perpetrators blatantly ignore the conditions of domestic violence orders and continue to be violent, harassing and stalking their victims,” ​​Senator Ruston said.

“[The program is] Make perpetrators more accountable and improve police response times through real-time tracking. “

But Ms Foster said that the use of the appliances was a long way from the mass rollout, so investments in this area need to be progressed quickly.

“For example in NSW we also use electronic surveillance for this but we only have 60 devices in all of NSW,” she said.

“You’re talking about 30,000 domestic violence attacks so it just scratches the service we need to see a lot more investment.”

Another $ 26 million will go to online security programs, including the support of the eSafety Commission to set up a team of experts for survivors.

The investment comes as the Morrison government on Friday launched the fourth phase of its Stop it at the Start campaign, focusing on changing the culture around respect and relationship in Australia.

Ms Foster said prevention remains a key area to fight in the mission to combat domestic violence.

“We know that gender inequality and the respectful attitude towards women are the primary drivers in sexual and domestic violence,” she said.

“We need to address these problematic attitudes in the community.”

If you or someone you know is affected by family and domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit

. In an emergency call 000. The Referral Service for Men provides advice to men on domestic violence and can be contacted on 1300 766 491.