Since Men’s Refuge opened last year in June 2009, offering men a place to lick their wounds from wives who abuse them, the number of men using the facility has mushroomed. Some men have been resident in these homes since they opened. Due to a shortage of funding some men were forced to return to their wives only to be back within 24hrs begging the administrators to let him back in. 30% of the men were seeking refuge from the State. The largest proportions of those were in deep depression from losing their children and experiencing little support from the courts with access.

Rising domestic violence rates had pushed services to breaking point, said Tim Stagnal, National Collective of Independent Men’s Refuges manager. “ I don’t understand why we are having an increase in the number of men claiming abuse but I suspect it may be due to the new law introduced last year on domestic violence.” Mr Stagnal was referring to the redefining of “violence” as: any party to a domestic relationship that experiences an emotion or lack of an emotion from one party that causes an injury be it physical or emotional to the other party.

Mr Stagnal has asked the government for another $500 million next year just to keep up with this year’s influx.

National Collective of Independent Woman’s Refuges has experienced a similar problem. They received $1.4 Billion last year and say its not enough.

Bub’s, spokes child for the National Collective of Independent Children’s Refuges, is also demanding more resources for the more than 400,000 children who no longer want to live with either of their parents. “We don’t need our parents since they no longer play any part in our lives” said Bub’s “ give us $2 Billion a year and let us do whatever we want.” Child, Youth and Family Services Minister , Ms Knowitall said last night that the children should come first and as the State knew what was best for them the resources would go in that direction.