Thursday, 13 November 2025

 Steve McGHIE (Melton) (09:46): I rise to acknowledge National Survivors’ Day, which was yesterday, 12 November. It is the only public-facing national day that recognises and honours survivors of sexual assault and institutional abuse. National Survivors’ Day is now in its fourth year and provides an opportunity for communities across Australia, including right in my electorate of Melton, to stand with survivors, their families and those who support them. From community centres and workplaces to our schools and faith communities, the message of solidarity and hope resonates deeply, not just with survivors but with the community that supports them. This year’s theme, ‘From silence to strength’, reminds us that when survivors are heard and believed, the shame and stigma of abuse begin to shift to where they belong, which is on the perpetrators and not on the survivors. We know that choosing to speak out is often a difficult decision and can be incredibly complicated, but we also know that speaking out has the power to transform pain into purpose and silence into our collective strength. We know that far too many Australians have experienced sexual violence – an estimated 14 per cent of adults, or 2.8 million people, which is shocking. These are not statistics, they are members of our own communities, our friends, our colleagues and our loved ones. I commend the National Survivors Foundation for their leadership and advocacy. Through them, I encourage all Australians, especially those of us in Melton, to stand with survivors, to listen and to help turn silence into strength.