With a gap of resources for women and children escaping domestic and family violence in regional NSW Betty's Place in Albury makes that gap noticably smaller.
The Greens put forward a motion in parliament to applaud Betty's Place.
Ms ABIGAIL BOYD (10:03): I move:
(1)That this House commends the work and advocacy of Betty's Place, a cross-organisational women's refuge operating in Albury which provides essential accommodation to women and their children escaping domestic and family violence who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
(2)That this House notes that:
(a)Betty's Place provides support to women and children across the Murrumbidgee region, and as a result of servicing multiple jurisdictions the refuge faces additional difficulties and challenges in providing supports;
(b)in 2021 there were 404 incidents of domestic and family violence responded to by police in the Albury local government area;
(c)data on domestic and family violence is not reflective of the likely reality of its prevalence because many women do not report violence due to a wide range of complex factors;
(d)according to a report published by Yes Unlimited in October 2021, entitledA Case for Change: Betty's Place, women and children escaping domestic and family violence in Albury make up approximately half of the clients seeking support from specialist homelessness services; and
(e)Betty's Place is in need of urgent funding to continue providing essential housing accommodation to women and their children fleeing domestic and family violence.
(3)That this House commends Betty's Place for their work supporting victim-survivors of domestic and family violence in the Murrumbidgee region and calls on the New South Wales Government to commit to adequately fund Betty's Place and other similar services across the State.
Motion agreed to.