1. Overview

The 2024-25 Gender Equality Budget Statement highlights NSW Government investments across three priority areas for action, aligned with the NSW Women’s Strategy 2023-2026:

There are established relationships between gender equality and economic outcomes. It is well documented that people who are not economically secure experience cost of living pressures more acutely. In particular, women with low economic security face greater challenges escaping domestic and family violence,¹ and are more likely to be at risk of experiencing homelessness.² This Budget is focused on addressing the housing crisis, investing in our health care system and reducing domestic and family violence and supporting victim-survivors.

NSW has seen the devastating impacts domestic and family violence has on individuals, children, families and the broader community. That is why the NSW Government is investing $245.6 million on programs aimed at reducing the rate of violence against women and children and enhancing support for domestic, family and sexual violence victim-survivors.

All women in NSW have the right to feel safe and be respected, whether they are at home, at work, or in public spaces. Yet many women continue to experience violence and abuse in their everyday lives, most commonly at the hands of a current or former intimate partner.

Domestic, family and sexual violence not only harms individuals, but destroys families and communities and undermines our ability to achieve gender equality in society. The physical, psychological, emotional, social and financial impacts of such violence often reverberate through people’s lives and cause hardship for many years. Reducing domestic, family and sexual violence is essential to improving outcomes for women and enabling them to thrive in all areas of life.

Dr Hannah Tonkin, NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner

These initiatives are complemented by legal reforms to strengthen bail laws to better protect victim-survivors by making it harder for those accused of serious domestic violence offences to get bail.

Under the new law, people charged with serious domestic violence offences will be required to ‘show cause’ as to why they should not be detained until their case is determined, reversing the presumption of bail. Those charged with such offences must also, if granted bail, be subject to electronic monitoring.

Additionally, from 1 July 2024 a standalone criminal offence for coercive control in current or former intimate partner relationships will come into effect in NSW. This landmark legislative change is complemented by a public awareness campaign ‘It’s not love, it’s coercive control’ and specialist training for police, the judiciary and specialist workers.

A campaign tailored for First Nations young people and an in-language campaign have also been developed.

The NSW Government is investing $5.1 billion in new and replacement social housing stock. This is the largest ever investment in NSW social housing. It is a major step to help those suffering from family and domestic violence. Over 34,000 women and children are on the social housing waiting list, with 5,000 assessed as in urgent need. These women are often escaping or are at high risk of domestic and family violence.

The NSW Government is investing in programs to support better health outcomes for the community. This Budget invests in early intervention programs to boost lifelong maternal and child health, more immunisation practitioners to increase vaccine uptake in at-risk communities and more mental health care.