Stop cuts to this vital service for women affected by family violence

Stop cuts to this vital service for women affected by family violence

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Community Legal Centres are a critical, potentially life-saving, service for many women trying to escape an abusive partner. 

Inadequate funding already forces Centres to turn away 160,000 people a year - many of them women affected by family violence.  

The Turnbull Government is planning to cut a whopping 30% of Community Legal Centres' funding from 1 July 2017. 

These cuts would put tens of thousands more women in danger - leaving them without the essential advice and support they need for their safety. 

Today family violence groups are speaking out against the cuts. Can you help make this issue inescapable for the Government by emailing your local Government Senator to urge them to reverse the cuts?

Community Legal Centres are a critical, potentially life-saving, service for many women trying to escape an abusive partner. 

Inadequate funding already forces Centres to turn away 160,000 people a year - many of them women affected by family violence.  

The Turnbull Government is planning to cut a whopping 30% of Community Legal Centres' funding from 1 July 2017. 

These cuts would put tens of thousands more women in danger - leaving them without the essential advice and support they need for their safety. 

Today family violence groups are speaking out against the cuts. Can you help make this issue inescapable for the Government by emailing your local Government Senator to urge them to reverse the cuts?

Urge your Senator to stand against the cuts

Right now the Government are in Canberra making critical decisions about the budget -- including their plan to strip $12 million of funding from the vital work of Community Legal Centres.

Can you help help make the huge community oppositon to this cut unavoidable - by emailing your Coalition Senator and tell them you want the cuts to Community Legal Centres reversed?

Click the "Email Tips" link below for quick suggestions on what to include in your email.

Compose your email

Email Tips +

Here are our tips for putting together a quick and effective email, because we know personal emails from voters have more impact than copy and pastes:

  • Introduce yourself - Explain where you live and why you care about this issue. If you voted for your Senators at the last election, be sure to mention that. (Pls note: You don't need to write Dear XX... the system will automatically add in your Senator's name)
  • Explain the reason you're emailing - Let them know you're emailing to express your dismay at the fact that their Government plans to cut 30% from the funding of Community Legal Centres from 1 July this year.
  • Share why you care about this issue. You may want to mention:
    • Community Legal Centres are a vital service for many women trying to escape an abusive partner. In fact, the majority of work they do is supporting victims of family violence.
    • Inadequate funding is already limiting their work so much that Centres are forced to turn away 160,000 people a year
    • The Turbull Government plans to strip funding back to $30.1m - a reduction of 30%, despite the Productivity Commission recommendations that a further $120 million of Commonwealth money is needed to even meet existing demand 
    • The Turnbull Government has previously recognised that “adequate investment in frontline services is critical to save lives" -- so by their own logic this cut puts lives at risk.
  • Let them know if this is an issue that will affect your vote. We know that funding of family violence support services is an extremely important issue to many people. If your Senator's position on these cuts will affect your vote at the upcoming election, be sure to let them know.  
  • Thank them for their time and consideration.
    (We'll add your name and postcode at the bottom so no need to include that)

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