Family violence
Martha HAYLETT (Ripon) (17:27): (640) My adjournment matter is for the attention of the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence. The action I seek is for the minister to convene an urgent roundtable meeting in Ballarat with community leaders and the family violence sector to discuss what more we can do to address the family violence epidemic in our region. As many in this place know, our region has been crippled with deep sadness in recent months with the tragic deaths of Rebecca Young, Samantha Murphy and Hannah McGuire. All three women were allegedly victims of violence at the hands of men. In Clunes the community lost an angel with a heart of gold in 23-year-old Hannah McGuire last month. I send my deepest condolences to Glenn, Deb, Fletcher, Jude and her entire family at this devastating time, and I stand with the Clunes community and broader region in saying enough is enough. We are sick of losing our local women, and we are sick of feeling unsafe.
On 12 April I joined over 1000 people who came together to march in the streets of Ballarat and call out men’s violence against women. It was a bittersweet event, with rage, raw emotion and determination to end violence once and for all. As a state we have come a long, long way, with almost $4 billion spent to end violence against women in the last 10 years, but we know that there is so much more to do, and we want to get on with it. Local leaders and family violence workers are eager to meet and discuss what more can be done next, and I know that all Labor MPs in and around Ballarat are too. I welcome the chance for the minister to convene this urgent meeting at a time when our community is desperate for more action.