Thomas successfully amended a motion put forward by the Canberra Liberals about addressing family and domestic violence, responding to the Auditor-General’s recent report into the administration of the ACT Government’s Safer Families Levy.
While Thomas was supportive of the original drafting of the motion, he drafted amendments to have it expanded to include issues that have been raised repeatedly by local FDSV crisis service providers.
Thomas’ amendments note that:
- the ACT Government made commitments in 2020 and 2024 to provide culturally safe family, domestic and sexual violence support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; and
- frontline crisis service providers are reporting being forced to triage women and children experiencing violence due to insufficient dedicated housing options for victim-survivors.
His amendments call on the ACT Government to advise:
- how it will implement its commitments to meet the particular needs of First Nations people escaping family, domestic and sexual violence, including by ensuring all frontline services are equipped to provide culturally safe support; and
- how it will provide more suitable ongoing housing options for victim-survivors to a level sufficient to meet demand and avoid asking vulnerable people experiencing violence to remain in, or return to, unsafe conditions in their homes.
Thomas’ amendments received unanimous support.
Video: Legislative Assembly - Wednesday, 4 December 2024
Thomas’ Speech: 4:22:08 pm