11. CAROL BEAUMONT (Labour) Link to this
to the Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment
Is she concerned about the warning of Heather Henare that waiting lists for places in Women’s Refuges may have to be contemplated as a result of cuts in Government funding?
Hon TARIANA TURIA (Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
No. I would be concerned if that statement was true, but the fact is that since the 2007-08 financial year the Government has increased core funding to the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges by 25 percent. In addition, overall funding to refuges both part of, and separate to, the collective has increased by 43 percent.
Why did she cut $382,000 of funding to the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges, which was used to fund the baseline activities of most of the women’s refuges around New Zealand, including providing short-term, safe shelter to women and children escaping violent relationships?
Hon TARIANA TURIA Link to this
The $382,000 was, in fact, money that was given to the refuges for educational purposes, not for the housing of women in those situations. The refuges have had considerably increased funding. The issue the member has raised is that they have had funding cut.
Rahui KateneHow much funding did members of the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges receive from the newly established Family-centred Services Fund?
Hon TARIANA TURIA Link to this
There were 24 applications from members of the collective, of which 20 were successful. I consider that a very good strike rate. Those 20 refuges received something like $1.683 million, and I am happy to inform the House that this is an increase in funding of 94 percent for affiliated refuges. The other two refuges that received money, which are not affiliated, received—[ Interruption] Do members opposite want to hear the answer or do they want to rabbit on? The other two refuges received $1.1 million.
How would the Minister describe the provision of short-term, safe shelter to women and children escaping violent relationships: as a front-line service or a back-office function?
Hon TARIANA TURIA Link to this
I think I have made it very clear that a 94 percent increase in money to the refuges hardly equates to preventing women from getting safety when they need it. I also want to point out that there has been a huge investment in front-line services to other family violence service providers right throughout the country.
Mr SPEAKERI asked a clear question, which was how would she describe the provision of short-term, safe shelter to women and children escaping violent relationships and whether she would describe that as a front-line service or a back-office function. I do not think she answered that question.
My interpretation of the Minister’s answer was that she confirmed that it was a front-line service, but if the Minister wishes to clarify that then I would be grateful.
Hon TARIANA TURIA Link to this
Of course it is a front-line service. They get 94 percent extra money to do it.
What analysis was or will be undertaken of the impact of cutting funding that pays for short-term, safe shelter for women and children escaping violent relationships at a time when family violence continues to rise?
Hon TARIANA TURIA Link to this
I have answered that question continually this afternoon. There has been no cut to Women’s Refuge funding.