Natasha Maclaren-Jones
Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
The Minns Labor Government has shown a shocking lack of judgement by funding a women’s refuge next to accommodation for transitional prisoners, raising significant safety concerns for women and children escaping domestic and family violence.
Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Natasha Maclaren-Jones, said the decision should never have been made.
“Women and children escaping violence deserve refuges that are safe, secure and properly assessed, not locations that raise red flags before they even open,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
“This is not a minor oversight, it’s a total lack of judgement and failure by the government of their most basic responsibilities.”
“Putting vulnerable women and children next to accommodation for former offenders shows a failure to apply basic common sense.”
“The Minister owes victim-survivors, service providers and the wider community a full explanation as to why this site was ever considered appropriate.”
Mrs Maclaren-Jones said the issue reflects broader mismanagement of the Core and Cluster program.
“In a rush to get money out the door, the Minns Labor Government has treated women’s safety like an afterthought, ignoring the most basic principle of service delivery, safety first.”
The former NSW Liberals and Nationals Government committed record funding of $484.3 million to expand the Core and Cluster Program for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence.
This was the largest single capital investment in domestic and family violence in NSW history. Labor has delayed and mismanaged the rollout, with only 15 of the 49 refuges currently operational.