9.1 Summary of Findings
Table 18 summarises second generation costs in 2021-22 resulting from domestic violence against women and their children.
Table 18: Second generation costs in 2021-2258
| |
2021-22
($ million) |
| Total second generation costs |
280 |
Without the Plan of Action interventions, second generation costs are estimated at $280 million in 2021-22. For every woman whose experience of violence is prevented as a result of the Plan of Action, $725 in second generation costs can be avoided. This equates to $28 million in reduced costs if levels of violence could be reduced by just 10 per cent by 2021-22.
9.2 Category description
This category includes short-term costs of providing protection and other services (such as child protection services, childcare and remedial/special education) to children of relationships where there is domestic violence, and longer-term costs imposed on society by these children as they grow older (such as increased crime and future use of government services). Access Economics estimated total second generation costs were $220 million in 2002-0359.
9.3 Cost and stakeholder breakdown
Table 19 summarises second generation costs associated with domestic violence.
Table 19: Breakdown of second generation costs in 2021-2260
| |
$ million |
% of total |
| Increased adult crime |
107 |
38 |
| Increased juvenile crime |
53 |
19 |
| Childcare |
50 |
18 |
| Out-of-home care |
39 |
14 |
| Child protection |
21 |
8 |
| Changing schools |
9 |
3 |
| Special/remedial education |
1 |
0 |
| Total |
280 |
100 |
Without appropriate action to address violence against women and their children, second generation costs could be $280 million in 2021-22. The main contributor to these costs is likely to be the increase in crime committed as adults by children who witness violence, at 38 per cent of total costs, followed by the increase in juvenile crime at 19 per cent.
Without appropriate action to address violence against women and their children, second generation costs in 2021-22 will be borne primarily by government.
9.4 Plan of Action priorities
The Plan of Action advocates more help for parents and primary caregivers to provide positive parenting by supporting their children to develop respectful relationships. If this initiative were implemented, $725 could be saved in second generation costs for every woman whose experience of violence was prevented.