Call for Urgent Family Violence Support in Regional WA

Manjimup Bridgetown Times 19 November 2025

Summary
Warren–Blackwood MLA Bevan Eatts has called for urgent investment in family violence services across regional WA, highlighting the lack of local crisis refuges as a life-threatening gap for vulnerable women and children. He is urging the State Government to deliver regionally based services, including a local refuge and dedicated outreach teams, to reduce reliance on overstretched police and external services.

Key Points

• No women’s refuge currently exists in Warren–Blackwood, forcing victims to travel hours to Bunbury or Busselton.

• Police often transport victims, leaving towns without active patrols for extended periods.

• WA recorded over 47,000 assault victims in 2024; two-thirds were family and domestic violence-related.

• Family violence homicides made up 40% of killings in WA last year.

• Eatts proposes:

  • A dedicated refuge in Warren–Blackwood

  • Local outreach teams in Bridgetown, Nannup, Walpole

  • Police relief and stronger enforcement of restraining orders

  • More funding for prevention and early intervention

• Minister Jessica Stojkovski cited $500M in government investment since 2017 and 64 crisis units across regional WA (including planned expansions).

• The Harbour refuge in Bunbury turned away 817 women and children last year due to capacity issues.

• Shadow Minister Libby Mettam called the statistics “absolutely shocking”.