New data has shown the rates of domestic violence and sexual assault have continued to grow in NSW despite a decline in other crimes.
NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research revealed this week the instances of domestic violence-related assault had risen 3.1 per cent between January 2017 to December 2021.
The rate of sexual assault also grew by 4.8 per cent in the same period.
Disturbingly, domestic violence-related assault and sexual assault were the only crimes to increase, with all other crime rates either falling or remaining stable.
In some regional areas, the growth in those crimes were much higher than the state average.
Domestic violence-related assaults were up 39.5 per cent in the Bathurst region, 36.5 per cent in the Central Darling region, 36.2 per cent in Burwood in inner west Sydney, and 29 per cent in regional Armidale, and 26 per cent in Inverell on the two-year trend.
In the past five years, the sexual assault rate also rose 22.2 per cent in Ballina, 19.5 per cent in Canada Bay, 17.5 per cent in the Queanbeyan-Palerang region, 16.9 per cent in regional Armidale, and 14.6 per cent in Lithgow.
Support services for domestic and sexual violence victims, as well as local courts were allocated more than $148 million in the NSW budget last year by NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, who was then the state's treasurer.
Another $32.5 million would be allocated to the Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) program in the upcoming budget, he said at the time.
However, the opposition says some $12.7 million is still yet to be spent after nine months, and the program needs to be expanded.
Of 40 councils with rising rates of domestic violence-related assault, only 13 are serviced with SHLV programs.
The government needs to commit funding where rates of sexual assault and domestic violence has increased, opposition women's spokeswoman Jodie Harrison said.
"If the NSW government needs guidance on the areas of need in the state, they need only look at the figures released this week," Ms Harrison said.
She said neither Bathurst, which saw a 39.5 per cent upward trend in domestic violence-related assault nor Armidale, which saw a 29 per cent rise, received proper government support.
Domestic and family violence was a problem compounded by a lack of support services in regional and remote areas, she said.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE-RELATED ASSAULT
Two-year trend and annual per cent change (January 2020-December 2021):
Bathurst regional: +39.5 per cent
Central Darling: +36.5 per cent
Burwood: +36.2 per cent
Armidale regional: +29 per cent
Inverell: +26 per cent
Yass Valley: +20.7 per cent
Sexual Assault
Five-year trend and average annual per cent change (January 2017-December 2021):
Ballina: +22.2 per cent
Canada Bay: +19.5 per cent
Queanbeyan-Palerang regional: +17.5 per cent
Port Macquarie-Hastings: +17.2 per cent
Armidale regional: +16.9 per cent
Tweed: +15.5 per cent
Lithgow: +14.6 per cent
Northern Beaches: +14.1
Maitland: +12.9 per cent
Port Stephens: +12.9 per cent
Source: BOSCAR
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