Tuesday, 28 November 2023

Ministers statements: family violence

Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for Medical Research) (14:19): I rise to update the house about how the Allan Labor government is working with our schools across the state to end family violence. I was pleased to join Minister Ward last week on the steps of Parliament to kick off the 16 days of activism against family violence. We did, as she said, walk in a sea of orange from Spring Street with thousands of others, calling for an end to this national emergency. I was very pleased, though, to see the school students in the audience and the speakers as well. There was no shortage of inspiring speakers, in particular Xiao Telefao, who is a student from Monterey Secondary College in the member for Frankston’s electorate, who spoke about the work they are doing with the Rosie Batty foundation in terms of Project O. This is bringing students together to talk about family violence and also to inspire the next group of young women leaders in our state.

We are working very hard, because the next generation are critical to ending family violence. That is why we have invested more than $80 million in our Respectful Relationships program. This is a program that supports school students and early childhood students too to promote positive attitudes. Nearly 2000 government schools, independent schools and Catholic schools have signed up to this program. We also know that consent is a vital part of the conversation. That is why we legislated affirmative consent. That is why we mandated age-appropriate teaching of consent in all government schools. It is about mutual communication – that consent can be withdrawn at any stage.

Our healthy masculinity program is making sure that men, all men across the state, know about gender equality and respect wherever they go and whatever walk of life they are in. I was pleased to see so many allies at the march last week, in particular to walk with the member for Preston as well as Minister Ward. Also, many on this side of the chamber signed the banner to reaffirm our commitment to end this epidemic. We know men need to walk side by side with women, because as we heard loud and clear on Friday, the time for action is now. We are taking action. The Allan Labor government is delivering programs right across our schools because that is where the conversation starts.