Thursday, 19 October 2023

 Tom McINTOSH (Eastern Victoria) (12:53): (481) My question is for the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence in the other place. Recently I met with the CEO of Gippsland Women’s Health Kate Graham. Gippsland Women’s Health, like women’s health organisations across the state, is an incredible advocate for gender equality and family safety. It is critically important to guarantee that women and children are safe in their own homes and communities. Kate and her team have compiled a snapshot report that includes the unfavourable statistic that Gippsland has some of the highest rates of family and gendered violence in the state population. Three of the top five LGAs for police call-outs due to family violence are in the Gippsland region. This government led the landmark Royal Commission into Family Violence and this year announced the implementation of the final recommendations of that royal commission, meeting our commitment to implementing all 227 recommendations. Minister, what work is the government doing to support people affected by family violence, specifically in the Gippsland region?