Domestic violence workers: states told to hire faster as Albanese government’s 500 staff pledge hit by major delays

Federal Labor eager to see program up and running but only a fraction of the promised staff have been hired

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The federal government has told the states to expedite a $170m program to hire 500 new domestic violence workers, with New South Wales admitting it could have moved faster to get workers on the ground.

The Albanese government has faced Coalition criticism for the fact only a fraction of the 500 workers have actually started work under the program, but it is the state governments who need to hire the staff – a task they have not met, despite growing community pressure and federal frustrations.