Chris Crewther (Dunkley, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today, I stand in support of White Ribbon Day. Today, I pay my respects to those who've experienced or have been a victim of harm or abuse at the hands of another. I pay my respects to the—as at 15 October 2018—55 women who have been killed by violence this year alone in Australia. As the father of a daughter and as a husband, brother, son and grandson, it has always been instilled in me to do whatever I can and need to do to help end men's violence against women, to be an example in myself, and to oppose violence more generally, whether it's against our young boys and girls, our elderly men and women, or others.

Abuse and violence can occur in many different ways, not just physically. It can involve emotional or psychological abuse, verbal abuse, financial abuse and, unfortunately, sexual abuse in some cases as well. It isn't just contained within the home; it extends to social settings and workplaces. It can happen anywhere and often many don't see it. Abuse and violence of any kind often result in psychological and physical harm. This issue has always been one of great significance to me, particularly as my wife and I are about to bring another child into this world. It is another opportunity for me to reflect on the history of violence against women, as well as to envisage a world without it and hopefully a world without violence altogether.

I am sure many of us here today, as members of parliament, have at some point been involved in situations where constituents have come to us about domestic violence, whether for help, advocacy or direction. Some of us may have experienced domestic violence ourselves in our own households now, or as children. It is through these situations where we are in a privileged position to be able to refer them to the appropriate departments, organisations and pathways. These situations show us firsthand not only the level of harm that domestic violence does but also the long-term effects and the impact of dealing with these experiences.

I want to acknowledge, specifically, the great work done in my local electorate by many who are working to tackle domestic violence. When I hear the statistics, it often gives me chills. As I read in the motion moved by Ms Husar, one in three women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence, perpetrated by someone known to them. One woman on average each week is killed by a current or former partner, and domestic and family violence are the principal causes of homelessness for women and children. These statistics are and always have been too high. In my opinion, our work is not done until the statistics are zero.

As a society, we need to continue to do more. We have made a lot of progress in relation to education, raising awareness and changing attitudes. We have also taken away the stigma of calling out inappropriate remarks or harmful actions, raising the standards of respect expected. We need to stop all domestic violence, as highlighted by White Ribbon Day, against women in particular, but against anyone, whether they be children, the elderly, men or women, people of different faiths or backgrounds, people with different ethnicities and so on. I stood in parliament last year and do so again this year, and I stand firm in my position of condemning those who commit, excuse or stay silent about violence against women in Australia and around the world. Those who would condone violence against anyone should be condemned. I take the oath that I will always stand up, speak up and act to prevent men's violence against women, and I will never be a bystander.

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