It has been revealed the Albanese Government has failed to deliver a single community worker through its election pledge to create 500 new frontline roles despite funding the measure in the October Budget over seven months ago.
When the measure was funded, the Albanese Government promised to have 200 new workers employed and on the ground in 2022-23. With just days to go and with no workers in place this milestone is in tatters.
Questioning at Senate Estimates revealed the failure which is a black mark on the Albanese Government’s first year in office.
It has prompted the Opposition to sound the alarm on the Albanese Government’s performance in women’s safety which is slipping on a number of fronts.
Questioning also revealed the first Action Plan under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 will not be delivered until August despite the Government’s own website still carrying the original pledge that it would be released in early 2023.
As the domestic violence crisis continues across indigenous communities it was also revealed that the promised standalone First Nations National Plan is not expected for at least 18 months.
As a result of these shocking revelations the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Women, Sussan Ley, and Shadow Minister for Child Protection and the Prevention of Family Violence, Senator Kerrynne Liddle, are sounding the alarm on the Albanese Government’s performance on women’s safety to prompt urgent action.
Women’s safety should remain above politics but the alarming evidence at Senate Estimates this week has forced the Deputy Leader and Senator Liddle to make an intervention calling out the Albanese Government’s failure to meet its own benchmarks.
The Deputy Leader and Shadow Minister for Women, Sussan Ley, said it is deeply disappointing that Anthony Albanese has over promised and under delivered when it comes to his women’s safety commitments.
“Women’s safety has always been a bipartisan issue and the Coalition will always support actions to end the scourge of domestic violence in our communities, but we have to hold this Labor Government accountable for its commitments,” the Deputy Leader said.
“This should be an area of urgent policy priority. Instead, we have seen very big claims backed by very little action.
“The fact that the Government promised to have 200 new community workers on the frontline by now but has delivered nothing, is frankly inexcusable.”
Shadow Minister for Child Protection and the Prevention of Family Violence, Senator Kerrynne Liddle said that every day delayed matters.
“We have a crisis in central Australia and despite a promise for new frontline workers, not one has been delivered,” Senator Liddle said.
“Making promises of money is easy, it’s ensuring those commitments turn into actions that deliver outcomes to increase safety for vulnerable women and children, that’s critical.”