Photo: NZ HeraldThe Government will spend $320 million on a package of initiatives aimed preventing family and sexual violence and breaking the cycle of violence. It includes almost $50 million towards preventing family violence and sexual violence and $85 million towards creating a safe, consistent and effective response to family violence in every community. More than $130 million has been set aside for expanding essential specialist sexual violence services and to moving towards fully funding services. Almost $40 million has been earmarked for reforming the criminal justice system to better respond to victims of sexual violence. The family and sexual violence package, which sits across eight portfolios, is the result of the first ever joint Budget bid from multiple government departments.

Source: Otago Daily Times May 18, 2019 22:30 UTC