Chalmers’ razor gang eyes cuts to legal services for DV victims

Legal services that help domestic violence victims could be slashed alongside other family and relationship services, as the federal government hunts for more savings in the May budget.

Just two years after the Albanese government promised an extra $1 billion in funding to combat domestic violence, Cabinet’s powerful Expenditure Review Committee has discussed cuts to the Family Relationships Services programs in Attorney-General Michelle Rowland’s portfolio, which cost taxpayers a collective $285 million per year.

The programs are separate to those run under Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek’s portfolio and are frequently used after someone has fled family or domestic violence.

The services under threat include access to legal assistance for people who have fled family and domestic violence, mediation services for separating couples, counselling, and contact services, used when a parent is only allowed supervised access to a child.

The review committee is meeting regularly amid increased global uncertainty and spiralling fuel prices to lock down cuts ahead of the May budget, and all ministers have been ordered to look for more savings ahead of a tougher-than-usual budget.

Any cut to the programs in Rowland’s portfolio would fly in the face of the government’s previous approach to tackling domestic violence, which included another $702 million commitment to help women and children fleeing domestic violence in September 2024 as part of a new package of services worth $4.4 billion.

While announcing the extra funding in September, Albanese described domestic violence as a “national crisis”.

“We must act to ensure women are safe. These horrific and disturbing deaths and vile violence must be prevented. Achieving this demands action and change at every level of government.”

A source familiar with the federal government’s deliberations, who asked not to be named so they could speak freely, said “these are for a victim-survivor who needs a lawyer, for example, and if they can’t afford it, these are the services they use if they can’t pay themselves”.

The legal services programs were not only for victims of domestic violence but the cut would disproportionately affect victims, the source said, whether that was the government’s intention or not.

“Making these cuts would hurt service providers, whether it’s accidental or not. They need these funding grants and this is now at a critical point.”

A spokesman for the attorney-general said the government was “committed to supporting programs which assist families in crisis”.

“The government will not pre-empt the outcomes of funding decisions made in the budget context.”

Rowland’s department has promised the sector it will advise services providers working within the programs about future funding arrangements as soon as possible.

A review of the legal programs ordered by former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus made 16 recommendations when it was delivered in June 2024, including streamlining the Family Relationships Services Program, better case management, a greater focus on the needs of children and better access for all Australians.

The government has not yet responded to the review but it remains under consideration.

High-profile community services such as aged care and the National Disability Insurance Scheme also face cuts.

One senior minister said the government had moved from a budget that “just has to deal with high inflation to one that has to deal with higher inflation and a much less certain international environment”.

“And we are still dealing with a budget that is in structural deficit. The next two weeks will be pivotal.”

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