Federal Ministers will today meet with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council on family, domestic and sexual violence to discuss the Albanese Labor Government’s commitment to ending violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children.
The meeting will discuss the work of the Advisory Council in leading the development of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan as part of the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-32.
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said the Government is forging a collaborative partnership with First Nations peoples to effectively address the unacceptable rates of family and domestic violence experienced by First Nations Australians.
“Last week, I met with state and territory colleagues to discuss our shared commitment to ending violence against women and children,” Minister Rishworth said.
“The rates of violence against all women and children in Australia is unacceptable. One woman dies every ten days at the hands of her current or former partner and we know First Nations women and children have an increased rate of experiencing violence.
“We are committed to listening to and working together in genuine partnership with First Nations peoples in developing a standalone National Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family safety.
“The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan is a foundational piece of work that we need to deliver now while the design and pathway for the development of a standalone National Plan is decided.”
Minister Burney said ending violence against women and children was a top priority for the Albanese Labor Government.
“The tragic reality is that Indigenous women are up to 35 times more likely to experience family violence than non-Indigenous Australian women. Every woman and child has the right to live in a safe and healthy community,” Minister Burney said.
“I reaffirm our commitment to do all that we can to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children are safe.”
“The Australian Government will work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to develop a stand-alone National Plan to set out a long-term strategy.”
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan will help deliver actions towards achieving Target 13 of Closing the Gap, which is to reduce all forms of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children by 50 per cent by 2031, as progress towards zero.
“The development of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan encompasses a comprehensive, transparent consultative process to support genuine partnership and shared decision-making as outlined in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap,” Minister Rishworth said.
The Government is committed to making real progress on ending violence. All levels of government are working effectively together to make the changes urgently needed to end violence against women and children across all parts of Australia.