The Cook Labor government has allocated a multibillion funding scheme to bolster the safety and security in Western Australia (WA), which includes a $5.1 billion ($3.4 billion) contribution to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) over the next four years.
The WA government’s funding commitments include $96.4 million to expand the family and domestic violence (FDV) response team operations to seven days a week, and will establish a dedicated organisation that will support and develop FDV-informed workforces.
It will also fund a new FDV One Stop Hub in Perth and two rapid rehousing programs to serve as emergency accommodations for victim-survivors in Leonara.
Last year, WA Police witnessed family-related assault incidents rise 11 percent to 29,273 while reports of violence restraining order breaches increased by 20 percent to 15,200.
Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Sabine Winton said FDV is an everyday occurrence in households across Australia.
“There is never any excuse for violence and our Government will continue to prioritise the safety of victim-survivors,” Ms. Winton said.
Meanwhile, the state has committed $88.3 million to boosting the Home Stretch WA operations to support young people leaving out-of-home care, aid in continuing and expanding statewide foster care support, and upgrade residential care homes for children in out-of-home care.
A $26.4 million funding has been earmarked for WA Police’s Operation Regional Shield to facilitate the rapid deployment of additional police assets anywhere in the state for another two years as required.
“Operation Regional Shield has achieved incredible results in suppressing crime and antisocial behaviour throughout country Western Australia,” said Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia.
Moreover, the state has allotted $36.4 million for the rehabilitation of offenders and improvement of state infrastructure, which includes $20.2 million additional funding to increase the capacity by hundreds of beds as part of the Casuarina Prison Expansion Project, and $7 million for the extension of the Mallee Rehabilitation Centre operations.
A further $103.7 million has been designated for WA’s legal system to accommodate the new functions and services of the Criminal Law (Mental Impairment) Act 2023, to take effect on Sept. 1.
The funding will be used for hiring a team of prosecutors to expedite and improve regional Children’s Court cases involving juvenile offenders and reducing workload pressures in the State Solicitor’s Office and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
“Many of the cases handled by the ODPP carry high public interest, large volumes of evidentiary material, and significant case complexity,” Attorney-General John Quigley said.
“Likewise, the state Solicitor’s Office serves a crucial role in providing high-quality legal services to the government of Western Australia and various state entities.”
Meanwhile, the state expects to contribute around $1.3 billion to the NDIS in 2024-25.
“In addition to our continued record investment in the NDIS, our government remains committed to funding state-run disability services such as individual and systemic advocacy, the ACROD Parking Program and Companion Card Programs,” said Seniors and Ageing Minister Don Punch.
“These initiatives, along with a number of other programs, support people with disability in WA outside the scope of the NDIS, which only covers 10 percent of people with disability.”
Western Australian seniors will also receive $8.8 million in state funding to boost support programs, including the WA Seniors Card program, which provides seniors with government concessions, rebates, and discounts nationwide.
