Thursday, 9 June 2022

Adjournment

Mr LEANE (Eastern Metropolitan—Minister for Local Government, Minister for Suburban Development, Minister for Veterans) (18:14): I reluctantly move:

That the house do now adjourn.

Family violence services

Dr CUMMING (Western Metropolitan) (18:14): (1977) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence in the other place, and the action that I seek is for the minister to work with Hume City Council to ensure that the gaps in accommodation, health services and programs are addressed for locals experiencing family violence. Now, family violence is against the law and there is no excuse for abusing a loved one. Unfortunately Hume city was home to one of the highest rates of family violence, with 4185 incidents occurring in the 2020–21 financial year.

Family violence has short- and long-term physical, emotional, psychological, financial and other effects on men, women and children. Every man, woman and child is different, and the individual and cumulative impact of each act of violence depends on many complex factors. Additional funding to agencies is required to offer increased support for men, women and children so that all in our community can feel protected and know that they can be safe, especially in the one place they should feel safe, which is in their own home. Further investment is also needed in crisis and long-term funding as well as in behavioural change programs for men and women.

Family violence tears lives apart. It affects men, women and children and the family and the broader community. It has significant personal, social and economic effects, and while each child will experience family violence differently, there are common effects of living with violence and fear. The obvious physical effects of family violence are physical injuries and death. Along with the visible physical impacts of family violence, victims are at higher risk of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress syndrome and suicide. Ongoing funding and support to address provisional gaps, especially in growth areas in Victoria, especially in my western region, are vital in addressing family violence. This means investment in more crisis and long-term accommodation, health services, prevention and behaviour change programs in the Hume city area and my Western Metropolitan Region.