Thursday, 2 May 2024

Gendered violence

Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (19:16): (875) We are experiencing an epidemic of violence against women, yet unbelievably, rather than strengthening bail laws, this government has relaxed them. Breaching bail is no longer a criminal offence in Victoria, and that is after a change that took place in this house in March. The community is grieving and in shock, and the police have complained that they have fewer options to respond if a domestic violence offender breaches bail conditions, such as by turning up at somebody’s house or harassing them with messages and phone calls. This is really despite ongoing advocacy from the community to see change in this area.

As a politician who has consistently advocated for change, I find this frustrating, and as a woman I find it disheartening and I feel let down. I think we need to have less marching, although I do applaud people that go out and hit the streets and march. I recently did it to raise awareness around the conditions, for instance, with Celeste Manno and how that case was handled by the courts. But we need to do less marching and more action, and that is what I believe the community is crying out for at the moment.

Despite all of this we have seen no changes in stalking laws. We have not seen the sexual violence strategy which was due two years ago. We have not seen that released. Like I said, we have seen a relaxation of bail laws, which is putting women in danger. So my adjournment is for the Attorney-General, and the action that I seek is for the Attorney to outline what the government is going to do other than marching in response to this crisis and what they will do in legislation to make this state safer for women.