NSW rape victims and survivors have been given no guarantees any money from an $80 million federal fund will be used to enhance support services.
NSW Ministers have come under intense questioning in budget estimates over why none of the federal money has so far been dedicated to sexual violence services.
The money was handed out as part of a national partnership agreement on domestic, family and sexual violence, but the NSW government has so far only used it to boost the first two categories, leaving rape victim support services in the cold.
The NSW Health Minister was put on blast on Thursday after his ministerial colleague responsible for preventing sexual violence, Natalie Ward, said it wasn't up to her to fund the services.
Brad Hazzard agreed it was NSW Health’s responsibility to provide funding, but appeared perplexed as to why all the federal money had gone to projects overseen by Ms Ward and none to NSW Health.
“I understood that the money that we would eventually extract from the federal government … would be going into supporting sexual assault services,” Mr Hazzard said.
“I need to get my head around what is actually going on in another Minister's portfolio and talk to xjmtzywthat Minister and the departmental officials to try to make that out.
“So I can't give you a definitive answer now, other than to say I’m entirely sympathetic to the cause.”
The committee heard the organisation responsible for providing a 24-hour rape crisis helpline, Full Stop Australia, was in need of at least $900,000 more per year to fully staff the service and respond to every call.
Other victim support services funded by the government had not had a substantial funding increase since 1986, despite a steady increase in demands from survivors, Mr Hazzard was told.
The Minister said he wasn't aware of any requests for additional funds.
“I don't recollect anybody raising that recently … not to my knowledge.”
Mr Hazzard stopped short of committing to a funding increase, which he said would be a “naive” thing to do before looking into the issue further.
But he promised he would “do whatever I can” and said he was supportive of the service.
“I need to sit down and come to grips with what‘s actually going on; to talk to the other Ministers who are in those spaces as well,” he said.
Health officials were unable to answer how much the state‘s yearly spend is on sexual violence services or how much the need for them had increased during the pandemic, but promised to provide answers on notice.
Full Stop Australia chief executive Hayley Foster said she was pleased to hear Mr Hazzard would look into the funding.
“We look forward to having this matter resolved as a matter of urgency,” she said in a statement.
Greens MP Abigail Boyd, who was one of the politicians pressing Mr Hazzard on the issue, said it was “extraordinary” for the Minister to claim he wasn't aware of a need for increased funding.
“I just can't believe the dodging and weaving; this lack of funding isn’t new,” she told NCA NewsWire.
“It’s his responsibility and he has failed to properly fund these services.”
