Canberra home owners will pay an extra $20 on top of their rates bills to help fund close to $9 million to address domestic and family violence and sexual assault prevention.
ACT Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry announced on Tuesday that the $30 Safer Families Levy would increase to $50 over the next four years, with the levy to increase by $5 each year.
Ms Berry said the increase would allow for $8.8 million of extra funding over the next four years.
This would include $4.1 million for health justice partnerships for lawyers at the Women's Legal Centre and Legal Aid that help women who present at general practitioners and hospitals.
There would also be $2.2 million for front-line services such as the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre and the Domestic Violence Crisis Centre, as well as $1.5 million towards the ACT government's sexual assault prevention and response program.
"A small increase in the Safe Families Levy each year for the next four years will enable the community to contribute to the enhancement of front-line services in a tangible way," Ms Berry said.
MORE A.C.T. POLITICS NEWS:
- ACT to introduce new planning act to replace current 'cumbersome' system
- Canberra ratepayers to miss out on rebates
- Tougher family violence laws proposed for ACT
"Together we can tackle these challenges by support victim survivors and the services making a difference in their lives.
"Canberrans will be able to see their contribution to addressing this whole of community problem through the dedicated item on their rates notices."
The ACT government started the levy in 2016 to help fund $21 million of family violence reforms. The flat levy applies to all households, regardless of wealth.
Rates bills are set to rise by 3.75 per cent for the average Canberra household in 2021-22.
