Ms LIESL TESCH (Gosford) (11:34): My question is addressed to the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Will the Minister please update the House on the reaction to the latest Minns Labor Government budget, which is building a safer New South Wales for victim-survivors of domestic violence?

Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown—Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault) (11:35): I thank the member for Gosford for her question and her support for the safety of women and children in Gosford, on the Central Coast and throughout wider New South Wales. There are some fantastic services on the Central Coast. They are really great. This week the Minns Labor Government delivered a budget that locks in a 50 per cent funding uplift to our six frontline domestic family violence support programs across New South Wales. This landmark $184.1 million investment offers stability to a domestic and family violence sector that has been under immense pressure. It will empower it to meet the increasing demand that it is experiencing and to do what it does best: keep women and children safe.

The domestic and family violence sector was absolutely united in its advocacy for change, and we listened. We listened to the stories of victim-survivors, we listened to the expertise of specialist workers, we listened to advocates and their calls for change, and I am proud to say that we delivered. The member for Gosford asked me about the reaction to the budget. Yesterday I was joined by leaders from Domestic Violence NSW, No to Violence, Liberty Domestic and Family Violence Services, and the Australian Services Union. It was heartwarming to sit down with the CEO of Liberty Domestic and Family Violence Services, Kelly Lamb, who is based in Port Macquarie. Her staff are really excited because they know that they will have more capacity to help vulnerable women and children in their time of desperate need. In a press conference yesterday Kelly said:

This is the best news the sector has had in a very long time …

We now know that we have choices ...

We now know that we can move these women into safety sooner …

The reaction does not end there. I put on record my appreciation for the incredible work that Domestic Violence NSW, or DVNSW, has been doing. My office and I worked really closely with DVNSW in the period leading up to this week's budget. I give a shout-out to Angie Gehle for the lovely message she sent to us yesterday acknowledging what has been, in Angie's words, a "momentous collaborative effort". I also welcome the public comments made by the CEO of DVNSW, Delia Donovan, who said:

What's going to be really significant about this budget announcement today is reducing those waitlists and making sure there is staff on the ground to be able to respond at an earlier intervention level.

Phil Ripper, the CEO of Note of Violence, a national organisation, said:

It's been at least 10 years since any state or territory or Commonwealth government has made family violence a centerpiece of their budget. This recognises the tremendous leadership of this government and their foresight.

The Secretary of the Australian Services Union, Angus McFarland:

More funding is what keeps workers in the sector, services open and victim-survivors safe. These budget measures show that the Government respects this sector and recognises that it needs more support.

The NSW Council of Social Service said:

We warmly welcome the significant investment in domestic and family violence supports, providing a critical boost to support the stability of this essential sector.

The Minns Labor Government inherited a system with frontline domestic services that were under immense pressure. This budget offers relief to ensure that more women and children can escape violence, access safety and begin their recovery. It builds on our record since coming to government. Since 2023 we have delivered an emergency package to extend and expand programs and fill service delivery gaps.

We have implemented the State's first primary prevention strategy to embed a culture of respect and zero tolerance for violence across our communities. We passed stronger laws to safeguard victim-survivors and hold perpetrators of violence to account. Members on this side of the House are proud of our record. Whether it is crisis response, prevention, early intervention or justice reform, it all matters, and we will continue to work with the sector, victim-survivors, advocates and experts to address the scourge of domestic and family violence. Too many lives have been lost, and we are doing the work to keep people safe.