The Northern Territory government has extended funding for selected domestic violence programs for another year, as part of its $180 million, five-year commitment to the sector. While the move has been welcomed, there are growing calls for additional funding for overwhelmed response services, following another alleged domestic violence death over the weekend.
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00:00As Alice Springs mourns its second alleged domestic violence murder this year, the DV
00:07sector is pleading with the Northern Territory Government.
00:10They're trying to save money, we're trying to save lives.
00:15A number of domestic violence programs drew to lapse in June, today given a one-year funding
00:20extension, as part of the anti-government's promise to deliver $180 million to the sector
00:27over five years.
00:29It will allow us that time to work through with them, to work through the budget process
00:33and give that assurity to those services going forward.
00:37But some experts warn there still needs to be a funding boost for response services such
00:42as women's shelters and men's behaviour change programs.
00:46We're getting more and more deaths, we can't wait longer, we can't do more consultations,
00:51more reviews.
00:52The anti-government also defended its decision to spend $7 million of this year's DV funding
00:58on a youth justice initiative known as the Circuit Breaker Program.
01:02That is not a domestic violence program.
01:05That is about addressing youth crime or youth anti-social behaviour.
01:10It comes as a 39-year-old man faced court today, charged with the alleged murder of
01:14his female partner in Alice Springs at the weekend.
01:18Christopher Dixon had his matter adjourned until the end of March.
01:22It's the second alleged DV homicide in Alice Springs in the past month.
01:27One survivor who knew the latest victim, speaking out about the challenges in coming
01:31forward.
01:32It's really hard to report them because we always get ready and it's true.
01:37We need more protection for ladies, mothers, we need more protection from domestic violence.
01:43Desperate calls for action from women living in fear.