Thursday, 8 February 2024

 Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Employment) (14:35): We are a government that takes seriously the threats to women’s health. We are committed to ending the horrific and tragic epidemic of violence in Victorian families. Women are not healthy when they are not safe. Women have the right to be safe everywhere in this state, especially in their homes. It is sobering to note that in Australia intimate partner violence is a major cause of death, disability and illness in women aged 15 to 44. This must end. The Allan Labor government has provided $19.4 million to women’s health services to improve the health and wellbeing of Victorian women. Women often seek the support of these services because of the violence that is used against them in their homes.

Victoria is leading the nation – and it is something we should all be very proud of – when it comes to family violence reform, investing over $3.86 billion. This includes in primary prevention, which is changing the way we support women when perpetrators have used violence against them. This government has established 36 Orange Door branches and access points across Victoria since the findings of the royal commission. These vital safety hubs are the first in the country, so far helping over 400,000 Victorians access critical safety assessments and case management, including access to health services, when violence has been used in their homes. For far too long family violence has been seen as a problem for women to carry alone, a shame for women to silently cloak themselves in, and we do not accept this. The Allan Labor government is committed to preventing family violence before it starts so that all Victorians, particularly women and children, can be safe, healthy and free from violence.