Govt to slash NT women's centre funding

Two-thirds of vulnerable NT women could be turned away from a support centre at the end of 2016, with federal funding set to be slashed.

A mother pushes a pram at a women's shelter in Alice Springs

The federal government will axe $400,000 in funding for a Northern Territory women's support centre. (AAP)

The federal government will axe $400,000 in funding for a Northern Territory women's support centre, raising fears for domestic violence victims in the Top End.

The NT Working Women's Centre funding will be cut at the end of this year and it will have to compete in a tender process for more money beyond that.

WWC co-director Rachael Uebergang warns vulnerable women will have nowhere to go if the centre loses 70 per cent of its funding.

"Two out of three women will be turned away," she told AAP.

"Retaining income security is one of the key contributing factors to a woman's ability to leave an abusive relationship."

WWC clients are 20 per cent Aboriginal women, 17 per cent are from a non-English speaking background, and 50 per cent come from regional, rural and remote areas.

"Our office in Alice Springs will close and services from the Darwin office will be drastically reduced," Ms Uebergang said.

The WWC provides a vital service amid the family violence crisis unfolding in the Top End.

There have been more than 75,000 domestic violence cases in the past three years, and NT Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said officers recently attended 98 domestic violence call-outs in one day.

The WWC has received 22 consecutive years of funding, allowing it to provide industrial relations and domestic violence assistance.

"We're able to help women negotiate with employers for time off to go to court, seek counselling and talk to schools," Ms Uebergang said.

The centre also deals with sexual harassment, pregnancy discrimination, bullying, unequal pay and unfair dismissal.

Solomon MP Luke Gosling vowed to take the issue directly to Canberra.

"I think what we need to see is the federal government's rhetoric around domestic violence being met with the funding of centres like this," the federal Labor MP told Mix 104.9.

Women's Minister Michaelia Cash said the 2016-17 budget committed $7.3 million over four years to fund community employment advice services.


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Source: AAP


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Govt to slash NT women's centre funding | SBS News