Blue Mountains City Council took a different approach to voting on a council motion at its recent meeting.
Instead of the usual raising of a hand to indicate a vote in favour or against a motion, the elected Councillors rose to their feet in a united stance against the NSW Government domestic violence reforms.
Mayor Mark Greenhill said domestic violence is a serious crime that cuts across social, ethnic and economic boundaries.
“Domestic violence in all its forms is completely unacceptable.
“The statistics on domestic violence related assaults in NSW alone are shocking, worse than an epidemic, it’s a calamity.
“The system needs to change.
“The NSW Government is urged to reconsider its policy position.”
Advocates against domestic violence, Suzie van Opdorp and Margaret Spivey addressed the Council meeting stating the fact that 500 women and children had been turned away from support services in the Blue Mountains and Nepean area when seeking refuge, in a period of just 12 weeks.
“There is a vital role for emergency accommodation and support for victims of domestic violence and their children”, said Ms van Opdorp.
“The NSW Government’s ‘Going Home Staying Home’ changes to specialist homeless services implemented across the NSW in 2014, has resulted in the closure of many women’s and children’s services and refuges across the State.”
The Council has called on the NSW Government to successfully implement the NSW Domestic and Family Violence Framework and urgently convene a meeting between Domestic Violence NSW and the NSW Government seeking to address the impact that recent policy reforms have had upon the provision of women’s refuges.
The Council will continue to work collaboratively through the Blue Mountains Coalition Against Violence and Abuse (CAVA) to implement local strategies to eradicate domestic violence and reduce its impact in the Blue Mountains community.
