Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today I rise to acknowledge 43 women who are no longer with us—43 women who were victims of an epidemic of violence against women. Of these 43 women, most were killed privately in their own homes. Today I want to honour and commemorate the lives of these 43 women. In doing so, I acknowledge at the outset the work of journalist Jenna Price and the Counting Dead Women Australia researchers of Destroy the Joint, who undertake the heartbreaking task of updating this list of indescribable tragedy.

Today I want to honour the life of Tina Fang, aged 25; Ruth Dodd, aged 71; Rinabel Tiglao Blackmore, aged 44; Nikita Chawla, aged 23; Leila Alavi, aged 26; Renee Carter, aged 29; Fabiana Palhares, aged 34; Adele Collins, aged 39; Traci O'Sullivan, aged 41; Kerry Michael, aged 44; Ainur Ismagul, aged 55; Tara Costigan, aged 28; Dianne Chi, aged 22; Kris-Deann Sharpley, aged 27; Prabha Arun Kumar, aged 41; Angela MacKinnon, aged 55; Sharon Edwards, aged 55; Jackie Ohide, aged 27; Sabah Al Mdwali, aged 28; Masa Vukotic, aged 17; June Wallis, aged 22; Salwa Haydar, aged 45; Mai Mach, aged 60; Stephanie Scott, aged 26; Julie Hutchinson, aged 48; Daniela D'Addario, aged 35; Melita Hart, aged 18; Linda Locke, aged 51; Seker Yildiz, aged 49; Olga Neubert, aged 37; Weijin Zhing, aged 68; Rose-Marie Sheehy, aged 32; Lana Smith, in her late 50s; Brittany Shanice Harvie, aged 22; and nine other unnamed women.

On 5 June I joined my fellow Novocastrians at a candlelight vigil coordinated by One Billion Rising in Newcastle to commemorate these women. We know that for young women under the age of 45 the most likely cause of death or injury is domestic violence. This is a scourge, it is an epidemic, in our society. This senseless killing must stop—it must stop now. These women must not die in vain. Please, if you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 for help.

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