Speaker,
Today I rise to acknowledge the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which we marked on Monday, and to acknowledge the 16 Days of Activism to address gender-based violence that continues through to December 10.
This time allows us to reflect on, and highlight, our shared commitment and resolve to end family, domestic and sexual violence.
All people have the right to live free from fear and violence.
However, we know violence against women and girls remains one of the most widespread and long-standing human rights violations across the globe.
This is a sobering reality, and one which we are sadly not immune to here in Australia.
Every day across Australia women and girls are being subject to family, domestic and sexual violence.
Gender-based violence and its impact ripples across communities.
Countless lives destroyed and lives lost as a result of this senseless abuse and violence.
Sadly, there are too many names that we know of women who have been slain by someone who professed to love and care for them.
There is Lilie James, a 21-year-old water polo coach who was found brutally bashed in the gym of the school she worked at in Sydney.
She had ended her relationship with her murderer just days before he wickedly took her life.
And Kumanjayi Haywood who just hours before her death texted a loved one saying “he’s going to kill me tonight, love you so much”.
Kumanjayi Haywood died with horrific burns to 90 per cent of her body after her former partner doused the house in petrol and set it on fire.
Seven calls were made seeking help for the 34-year-old, whose murderer had been her partner for 20-years.
Both these women, and many others, have had their lives extinguished in brutal acts of abuse.
One death due to family, domestic and sexual violence is one too many.
The devastation caused by this epidemic of abuse ripples across communities.
Lives are destroyed, terror is inflicted on victim-survivors for years and years and the impacts can and often are felt long after someone escapes a violent relationship.
This is why ending gender-based violence has been a national priority for the Albanese Labor Government. It is an issue which cannot be allowed to fall off anyone’s radar.
It is an issue that is above politics.
I echo the words of the Prime Minister on Monday as we marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
We must be energised and united to continue to take action so we can achieve the much needed change we all want to see.
We must recommit ourselves to the consistent and persistent action required to achieve our shared goal to end gender-based violence in one generation.
We must look ahead with hope to the lives that can – and will – be changed as a result of the work we are all doing.
All women and children in Australia deserve to be safe – at home, in the workplace, at schools and in daily life.
This is a shared goal – along with states and territories – that we are committed to progressing.
I would like to acknowledge all victim-survivors who may be listening or watching today. I am in awe of your resilience and bravery.
I want to acknowledge all those who are living with the impacts of gender-based violence in their daily life.
Women who are dealing with threats and stalking, who have to check their cars, phones and even their children’s toys for hidden tracking devices.
Children who are struggling to learn about what healthy, respectful relationships look like because it’s not being modelled at home.
Boys and young men who are being bombarded online with messages that disrespect women.
I also want to acknowledge all those who are no longer with us as a result of gender-based violence. You will not be forgotten.
Because of the generosity, resilience and courage of victim-survivors who have shared their stories with us and are using their voices to create change – we now have a better roadmap on how to get there.
More than 3000 people lent their lived experiences, wisdom and expertise to the development of the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032 and its Action Plans.
This important source of information, which continues to expand through ongoing input from victim-survivors, has informed the development and implementation of the 113 Commonwealth-funded initiatives currently being delivered to address gender-based violence.
And this is on top of initiatives and funding commitments made by states and territories that also help to implement the National Plan – which is, of course, a shared document between the Commonwealth, states and territories.
These initiatives are driving action at both the systemic and individual level – addressing the underlying drivers of gender-based violence to prevent it before it occurs at a society level and a local level; intervening early and preventing further escalation; responding appropriately when violence is used; and supporting the recovery and healing of victim-survivors in ways which put them at the centre.
The voices and experiences of victim-survivors have been at the centre of our work, particularly through the establishment of the first-ever national Lived Experience Advisory Council.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the Council for the work they have been doing and for elevating the voices of victim-survivors.
As we listen to those voices, we think about all those who will be sorely missed by their loved ones, children, families, friends and communities.
And importantly – I want to make a point I have made for some time: gender-based violence is not a ‘women’s issue’ to solve.
This is an issue for us all and one that everyone in this place is dedicated to addressing. But more broadly, its not just an issue for governments, but all of society, communities, businesses, organisations and individuals all have a role to play.
Change on this issue is within our reach.
The work that is occurring every day by frontline workforce is changing – and saving – lives as we work to end violence for good.
There is hope, and there is help.
As Minister for Social Services, one of my greatest privileges has been meeting with many victim-survivors who have shared their experiences of gender-based violence and abuse with me.
They have articulated how even seemingly small changes can have a profound impact – particularly for our children and young people.
One change I am particularly proud of in this portfolio and we acted to make reality as one of our first pieces of legislation in Government was our ten paid days of family and domestic violence leave for all employees.
This change, gave mental health nurse Susan – not her real name – the economic certainty to map out leaving an abusive relationship.
With paid family and domestic violence leave Susan no longer had to choose between her economic security or her safety.
Susan made a call on her break during a shift at the hospital to organise crisis accommodation, where she went after her shift finished.
The next day she commenced her 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave. She was also able to access a $5000 grant through the Escaping Violence Payment and set up in a new home.
Our Government has implemented the permanent Leaving Violence Program. And we know that for many people who access the payment, it’s the first time they have reached out for help.
For young mum Bella – also not her real name – the payment literally saved her life after she lost her job and was left homeless as a result of her partner’s violence.
Bella who was pregnant at the time, was able to secure accommodation for herself and her kids, as well as purchase a new baby seat in preparation for the arrival of her baby with the payment.
Bella told the frontline workers that she was assisted by in her time of need that she was so thankful for the ability to access vouchers for food and groceries and household items to support her family’s transition into their new property.
There is also Josie’s experience, who reached out to the new 1800RESPECT SMS channel, launched last year, for help.
Josie has been married to her husband for more than 40 years, but she had noticed that she has been slowly isolated from her friends and family. Her husband also strictly controls their finances, and only offered her a small allowance each week for items around the home.
Through texting 1800RESPECT, Josie was able to begin to understand the signs of coercive control, understand how they may have been present in her life and was able to be connected to the support services near her.
These are just some of the people who are every day receiving support and having their lives changed by important work that frontline workers do every day. Frontline workers who dedicate themselves to ending violence and are delivering some of the 113 initiatives under our National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children.
I want to take this opportunity to also recognise and celebrate every single frontline domestic and family violence worker who has dedicated themselves to helping people who are experiencing violence.
It really is life-saving work.
The skills, experiences and advocacy that these people bring have driven the action and change we have already seen and will continue drive action to address gender-based violence.
Along with the important investments I have mentioned so far we are also sharpening our focus on prevention so that we can end violence in a generation.
We’re doing this through investing in respectful relationships education and consent campaigns; supporting the work of Our Watch, the national primary prevention organisation; and addressing exposure to online harms for children and young people.
We are also supporting the important work of the frontline sector through our funding to states and territories under the National Partnership Agreement, and through initiatives like our 500 additional frontline workers.
As a result of the second dedicated National Cabinet meeting on gender-based violence our Government committed an extra $350 million for funding under a renewed, five-year National Partnership Agreement on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses for frontline services.
This funding will be indexed by the Commonwealth and matched by states and territories.
But as we all know, our work will not be complete until every woman and children in Australia is safe.
We will not be finished in our task until we have eradicated the corrosive and devastating impacts of gender-based violence.
It is through collaboration between governments, frontline workers, and the whole of society that we can achieve our shared goal of ending violence against women and children.
And these 16 Days of Activism is an opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment to create the change we all want to see. But we know achieving this change will require our focus each and every day of the year.
It will take time and our unwavering commitment.
But together we can achieve the change we want to see.
Let’s work together to end gender-based violence and no longer have women and children subject to this devastating evil that is family, domestic and sexual violence.