Thursday, 20 November 2025

 Tim RICHARDSON (Mordialloc) (10:03): All Victorians have a role to play in ending gendered violence, and on 28 November we will come together for a march at Birrarung Marr as part of the 16 days of activism against gendered violence in our communities. Thousands of Victorians, and particularly men and boys, have turned out to this rally to stand against family and sexual violence in our community and the horrific harm that this causes for so many. To see the love, care and compassion for fellow Victorians when we join together for that march is a really important thing.

We know ending gendered violence starts with all men and boys. We do not say about mental health and wellbeing, where 75 per cent of people that we lose are men and boys, that not all people are impacted by suicide. But we hear those things, and I hear time and time again on social media that it is not all men. But all men have a role to play as being upstanders, being caring and compassionate for women and girls in their lives and lowering the incidence of violence in our community. And we know that if we intervene early and call it out, it can lead to better outcomes and lower the risk of violence into the future. We want men and boys to be the best versions of themselves. As Parliamentary Secretary for Men’s Behaviour Change, I am so committed to that work and role. So I call on all Victorians – if you can, come along to the march on 28 November as part of the 16 days of activism against gendered violence.