Wednesday, 1 May 2024

Ministers statements: gendered violence

Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Employment) (14:15): Today we acknowledge National Domestic Violence Remembrance Day. We remember all of the women, children and men who have been hurt, who have been abused or who have died because of the violence of someone they love or loved. I want to thank our hardworking, committed family and sexual violence workforce for the necessary and important work they do every day.

Victoria’s work in responding to the epidemic of family and gendered violence is nation leading. Responding to Luke Batty’s horrific murder by his father in 2014, our government called Australia’s first royal commission into family violence. We have implemented all 227 recommendations. We have invested close to $4 billion, establishing a system to support victim-survivors, undertake prevention initiatives and work with those who choose to use violence, predominantly men.

We have opened our Orange Door network, with 54 locations across Victoria. We are committed to helping rebuild lives and keep people safer. Orange Door has helped almost half a million people, including 180,000 children and young people, and this work has not gone unnoticed, with interstate and international interest. Recently I have hosted my South Australian counterpart with the member for Box Hill, and I have hosted Fijian minister Kiran with the member for Cranbourne. International delegations want to know more about this first-of-its-kind service.

The Allan Labor government has laid strong foundations, and there is more to do. As a government we will continue to build on addressing the issue of gendered violence in Victoria. We want a state that is free from violence. I want to thank the Premier for her leadership in keeping this issue front and centre on the national agenda.