SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER
MINISTER FOR FINANCE
MINISTER FOR WOMEN
MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, marking the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
I know that for many years now, my friend and colleague Sharon Claydon in the other place, who is deeply committed to ending violence against women, has read out the names of women killed by violence in the previous year, as recorded by Destroy the Joint. As has Senator Waters from this chamber.
She’s doing that again this year and I encourage people to go listen to her speech – a poignant reminder of just how many women’s lives have been cut far too short.
It’s a distressingly long list of names – and the truth is we wouldn’t have enough time if we were to add to the list all of the women and children who have felt the impacts of violence in their lives.
Since 1989, when the data started, 1,710 women have been killed by their intimate partners.
But we know that that number doesn’t show us the whole picture.
The too many women who die by suicide after years of violence and abuse.
The children who grow up witnessing violence, fearful for the lives of their mothers, then so often experiencing the enduring impacts of this trauma.
The missing and murdered First Nations women, who so often don’t get the same media coverage as other women across Australia.
The women who experience brain injury as a result of gender-based violence, a consequence that is terrifying and yet we know far too little about it.
The women who live in fear every day.
Scared to go home, where the person that professes to love them is the greatest threat to their life.
Being tracked, abused, threatened – all for taking the brave decision to leave a violent relationship.
Living with the emotional and physical scars of violence.
As Minister for Women, it’s an honour to be entrusted with so many women’s experiences – from women who talk to me when I’m out and about in communities around Australia, to women who write to me, to women who turn the most horrific experiences into action and advocacy and meet with me at Parliament.
I am inspired by all of these women and their supporters.
To them I say: this government is committed to ending this violence.
We all want change.
For some, it’s personal. For everyone, though, it matters.
We know ending violence require action and investment.
It’s why, since coming to Government we have made record investment to end this violence.
At every economic update we have looked at ways to invest to support the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children and its bold but important ambition of a future free from violence. I want to acknowledge Minister Rishworth and Assistant Minister Elliot and Assistant Minister Thwaites for their leadership in driving action to support this ambition.
We’ve invested $4 billion in this important task. Investments to prevent violence, to intervene where it happens, and to respond and support victim-survivors to recover and heal.
This is on top of the $3.9 billion for legal assistance announced following National Cabinet’s historic meeting into ending violence against women and children.
These investments also include extra funding for housing, which includes specific investments targeted at women escaping violence.
And there is also our significant investments in women’s economic equality, including our reforms to Parenting Payment Single so women are able to access payments until their children are 14, a significant reform for so many mothers fleeing domestic violence and in need of economic stability.
But it’s not just about the dollars.
It’s also about legislative reform, like paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave so that women don’t have to choose between their job and their safety.
Or improving the family law system so it’s safer, fairer and better responds to experiences of family violence.
But there is always more to do – until all women and girls are safe, whether at home, online, or in their communities, we cannot take our foot off the accelerator.
And so we press on, guided by our deep determination and optimism that we can achieve a community free from gender-based violence.
On this day, and every day, I think about the lives of women and girls across the country.
I reiterate my commitment, and the commitment of everyone across the Albanese Government, to an Australia free from gender-based violence.
Because a safer and more equal Australia for women is a better country for all of us.
MONDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2024
