Gai Brodtmann (Canberra, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Cyber Security and Defence) Share this | Hansard source

On average, one woman a week is murdered as a result of domestic violence, one in four women has experienced emotional abuse by a current or former partner since the age of 15 and family violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and their children. This is in Australia in 2018.

One family violence survivor has turned a tragic and harrowing experience into a reason for my community to smile, despite the disgrace and the shame of family violence. Juliet Moody is the brains and beauty behind the Fearless Comedy Gala, a night of nights where comedians from across Australia donate their talent for a great cause. This year was the third Fearless Comedy Gala, which once again raised funds for the Domestic Violence Crisis Service in the ACT. I've been lucky enough to attend this event every year, and it just keeps getting bigger and better. This year's event took the 'Fearless' fundraising total to over $100,000 in just three years. This is an incredible effort.

The creator of this initiative, Juliet Moody, is with us here today in the chamber with her husband, Nick. On behalf of this parliament, Juliet, I want to acknowledge and congratulate you on your outstanding achievement. You are the light surrounded by a dark subject, and you inspire and empower more people than you'll ever realise. Congratulations, and thank you for encouraging and empowering people to live a life free of fear.

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