Campaigners for an Australian-first trauma recovery centre in the Illawarra region say they are astonished at the New South Wales Minister for Women's Safety Natalie Ward's excuse for not funding the centre.
The project received $25 million in the federal budget in May but failed to receive any money in the NSW budget in June.
The Commonwealth's share was for operational costs over five years.
The NSW government had provided the Illawarra Women's Health Centre and the University of New South Wales $50,000 to complete a business model for the capital costs.
The business case was provided to the Perrottet Government in December and requested $4 million for land and $13 million for construction.
'Competing interests'
On Wednesday in the state's budget estimates hearings, Minister Ward was asked by Greens MLC Abigail Boyd why the project had been "ignored" in the budget.
Minister Ward said the Expenditure Review Committee, which she "wasn't a part of" had decided not to provide any funding.
"In relation to the past budget expenditure review process, I can't comment on that. It's obviously [marked] Cabinet-in-Confidence," Ms Ward said.
"What I can say is there is a number of competing interests in this area for funding."
Ms Ward said her colleagues had written to the federal government regarding "the capital components of the proposal to see if there's opportunity for part of that to pivot to services as well".
Ms Boyd expressed shock at the revelation.
"You've written to the federal counterparts to get them to instead split that funding so that now it won't go for five years because some of it will be used for a building, is that correct?" she asked.
"There are always competing interests in this area," Ms Ward again responded.
Ms Boyd challenged Ms Ward on whether she had advocated for a $30-million streetlight program launched in Sydney's south-west at Parramatta at the expense of the Illawarra-based trauma centre.
"To fund streetlights and to dress it up as something for women, as opposed to people in general, and to make the choice not to fund a trauma centre that would help thousands of women get back on their feet after having been victim-survivors of domestic violence. That was a choice," Ms Boyd said.
Ms Ward again repeated there were competing priorities and it wasn't "about comparing one to the other".
After the hearing, Ms Boyd said the government had dressed the budget up as a "women's budget" but had failed to fund the initiatives the sector was calling out for.
"There cannot be a better example, I think, of something you would fund if you were serious about providing a better life for women in the state, for helping women to be more productive," she said
Advocates confounded
Executive director of the Illawarra Women's Health Centre Sally Stevenson said she was bewildered by the answer.
"She [Natalie Ward] is effectively wanting to split that money, gouging out the funding that the Commonwealth committed," she said.
"We were very surprised, disappointed and speechless at the lack of foresight the Minister has demonstrated.
"It is very disheartening and quite disgraceful. Effectively she is taking away services from women in the Illawarra.
"She does not appear to understand the urgency with which a facility like this is needed — we are talking about a public health crisis.
"It is her job as the Minister for Women's Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence to speak up for victim survivors."
