who says so... LEFTIES WHO ELSE.

[url]http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/30-levy-sets-new-territory-on-domestic-violence/news-Canberra residents will become the first in the nation to pay a domestic violence tax, after the ACT government announced it would levy households $30 a year to fund an “unprecedented” $21.4 million reform package.

Unveiling the Safer Families program as the centrepiece of yesterday’s budget, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the territory government’s investment in domestic violence ser­vices was the largest in its history.

“Family violence does not discriminate; it is a national issue that touches the lives of Australians everywhere,” Mr Barr said.

“In Canberra we’ve seen our share of tragedy. All of us need to stand up and say enough is enough. There is no place for family violence in our community.”

The decision to levy the funds from residents as opposed to finding the money in general revenue was taken to ensure there was a “locked-in, legislated, sustainable revenue source for this initiative” over time, Mr Barr said.

Victorian Premier Daniel ­Andrews said in April he would consider a similar levy to fund all of the 227 recommendations made by a royal commission into family violence.

MORE: ACT budget: Barr cash splash
The ACT package has been coupled with new laws to broaden the definition of family violence to include emotional, psycholo­gical and economic abuse, along with bolstered legal protections for victims. A new full-time co-­ordinator general for family ­safety with a dedicated team will receive $3m of the $21m package, with $2.6m going towards case management and co-ordination, $2.4m for enhanced child protection services, $2m for specialist drug treatment services and $1.2m for interpreting services in ACT courts.

A key role of the co-ordinator general will be to work with community and government partners, including with Aboriginal groups, to ensure services are culturally appropriate. An extra $1.2m will go to Legal Aid for access to legal services for victims, while $1.45m will be allocated to implement recommendations from the Australian Law Reform Commission’s report into Family Violence.

Frontline staff in community and emergency services, health and education will also receive $770,000 for training so they can identify family violence and put in place early intervention measures.

Soaring demand for services will see the ACT Domestic Violence Crisis Service and Canberra Rape Crisis Centre receive more than $1.2m over four years to support people affected by family violence.

The Tara Costigan Foundation will receive funding for the establishment of the “Tara’s Angels Service” which will provide a free caseworker service for victims as they rebuild their lives.

The charity was set up last year after the 28-year-old was killed by her former partner with an axe, while breast-feeding her five-day-old baby daughter.

Her nine-year-old and 11-year-old sons watched the brutal murder, while her sister and boyfriend were injured trying to stop the attack.

“Any and all funds that can help us to support that is very, very much needed,” the foundation’s chief executive Michael Costigan, Tara’s uncle, told The Australian.

ACT Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson said the Liberal Party wanted extra services to address family violence, but it should be the “main game” for government and not funded through a special levy. “We have supported action on domestic violence … but to pay for initiatives for domestic violence through people’s rates seems like a very strange solution,” Mr Hanson said.

“This should be the sort of stuff that is front and centre for the government.”

Free-market think tank, the Institute of Public Affairs, said the ACT government was right to implement effective measures to confront domestic violence, but said this did not justify the levy.

“It’s important to separate means from ends,” said IPA director Simon Breheny. “The government should refrain from increasing taxes on Canberran landowners. Tackling violence in all its forms is the first role of government. The imposition of a higher tax burden is not justified. Instead, the government should be looking for savings, and using that money to put towards important frontline services.”





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Paul 4 MINUTES AGO
One of you Canberra souls should refuse to pay it and take them on in the Courts.



really MONEY WILL FIX IT.... REALLY...

but only the chosen few will pay for it.. the home owner who else.

a tax doesn't stop domestic violence, a tax raises money that is used to then fund anti domestic violence programmes.

One guy gets killed by an extremist and you're all willing to spend BILLIONS in a war on terror, meanwhile no one wants to spend anything when two women a week are dying because of domestic violence

bogarde73 wrote on Jun 8^th, 2016 at 9:06am:


I'm trying to figure out how this new tax would function as a STATE tax?

In all honesty, it's all starting to sound just like our STATE LAND TAX INVOICES!

For those who may not know, these invoices look like fines.

And you WILL get fined if you don't pay by the date stated on the invoice.

Hmmm, it just seems bizarre 

bogarde73 wrote on Jun 8^th, 2016 at 9:06am:



and its usually the boy friend who doesnt own the home.

maybe its time home owners balked at this... how dare they just come up with this idea... its a tax just another bloody tax....but only for those who buy their own home....its a joke...and that arsehole in Vic wants to do the same even though he knocked back an increase in the GST.. what a joke..

I liked the bit that says Bolster LEGAL PROTECTION  for victims.......we can see whos going to get the lions share cant we?

Belgarion wrote on Jun 8^th, 2016 at 9:15am:




its not a general tax thats the problem its a home owners tax....which mean increasing the rates....

we get slugged enough.... and as the libs say this should be taken care of by the govt its not my issue....I do not have  or know anyone who is responsible for domestic violence why penalise me..

I am horrified by our record of D.V.  its horrible and we should feel shame and I do...but we already have an enormous amount of help out there..millions is spent on it....the police are inundated   and it gets worse not better...now I am going to be forced to contribute to something else that wont stop a bloody thing....

maybe it would b e better to spend the money on cages to place in the market place so these perpetrators can be placed on exhibit

instead of the huge cover up we give them...

F#ck me - $30 a year per household per year to help stem  family violence.   What a petty bunch of whiners.  Yet you were happy to pay a $7 copayment under Joe Hockey to fund a medical centre of excellence that would do nothing more than help big pharmacy companies line their pockets.   Honestly, some of the posters on here need to be exposed to a bit of family violence - then see how quickly there would be a reversal of thought about a petty $30 pa per household.

John Smith wrote on Jun 8^th, 2016 at 9:09am:




Very well put - JS
At least ONE poster is being honest and realistic

"Terrorism" is not a major problem in this country
(it IS an emotive vote winner, though)

Take a look at domestic violence deaths, the road toll and youth suicide, in comparison


It is also notable that much of this raised revenue would be used to restore funding to women's refuges and "safe house" - cut by the Abbott Government

A tax will make no difference.

Helping men will make a difference.