A Devonport woman who is a survivor of family violence has urgently called on the government to increase funding to the Family Violence Counselling and Support Service.
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Alison Butcher fronted media on Sunday to join a Labor petition campaign for $1 million a year in additional funding for the service.
The campaign says 11 to 12 more staff members are needed just to keep up with demand.
It says individual support workers are dealing with caseloads of over 600 clients who are victims of family violence each.
Ms Butcher said she wouldn't be here without the service, after dealing with a violent and abusive former partner for over a decade.
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"I'm fighting for them to have enough staff," she said.
"I'm fighting for people just like me to have that essential service there when they need them, so that they don't need to wait.
"I got the courage to fight through the system because of those workers: because they were there, they talked me through it, they believed in me.
"I could call them at any point in time and they would step me through it. I don't think I would be here if it wasn't for those counsellors."
Bass Labor MHA Michelle O'Byrne said funding for the service woefully inadequate.
"It's not just about new announcement when we're talking about family violence; it's not just about new partnerships, if you chronically underfund the existing services, it's not OK," she said.
Premier and Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Will Hodgman said the government was taking family violence seriously.
"Labor playing politics with family violence is more of a reflection on them, especially given the fact they didn't provide the additional resources and support that my Government is," he said.
"The Tasmanian Liberal Government has invested over $50 million in additional funding to reduce family and sexual violence. We have also provided extra funding to the Family Violence Counselling Support Service."
Ms O'Byrne said the petition was available at betterfairertasmania.com/support-family-violence-services/ and on paper at support services.
- Call the Family Violence Counselling and Support Service from 9am to midnights weekdays and 4pm to midnight weekends and public holidays on 1800 608 122, or call 1800RESPECT - 1800 737 732 - 24/7.