Wednesday, 1 May 2024

Ministers statements: gendered violence

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:06): I do rise to update the house on the action our government is taking to keep Victorian women safe. We are seeing a woman killed in this country every four days. There is also a bigger number than this: the number of women and children who suffer in silence behind closed doors in households across the country. These are names that will not make it into the headlines but are names that we need to act to support. This is the biggest law and order issue that is happening in our society today, and we have done a lot here in Victoria. We have done a lot. We have put more time and money into the crisis than any other state ever.

But this is a national problem, and it demands and deserves a national solution. This morning I attended a national cabinet meeting called by the Prime Minister. I was invited to share the lessons from our royal commission here in Victoria, the investments we have made, the difference that our Respectful Relationships program in schools is making, the rollout of the Orange Door network, the family violence information-sharing scheme and also safe and secure housing for women escaping family violence.

Along with my colleagues who are state and territory leaders, along with the Prime Minister, we are determined to take action now, including important measures to save lives and keep women and children safe. For example, I absolutely welcome the Commonwealth government’s announcement today to introduce a leaving violence payment to help with the financial cost of escaping abusive or violent relationships. The payment will support women at a point in crisis. I welcome the work the Commonwealth will do to ban deepfake pornography and increase support for the eSafety Commissioner. Governments, state and territory, will work together on information sharing, look at opportunities to strengthen our justice systems and also listen to and learn from those with lived experience and act with urgency. We do need to act. Women – we – deserve to be safe wherever we are in our community.