Bridget Archer (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you to all of those who have spoken today ahead of International Women's Day on Sunday. I stand here today as the first female Liberal member for Bass and only the fourth female in the history of the seat—not much balance there, I would say, but some progress. At the UN International Women's Day breakfast, the PM noted that for the first time in the parliament's history there are equal numbers of men and women in the Australian Senate, and I'm proud to stand among the growing number of women from all sides in this place. But I look forward to a day when we don't have to discuss it.

In 2020, we have a long, long way to go. As long as women and girls in this country continue to suffer physical, emotional and financial abuse in outrageous numbers, true gender equity remains out of reach. The shocking murder of Hannah Clarke and her children is a horrifying reminder of the work that we still need to do. We should be outraged. We should be outraged that what Hannah endured before her death is not the exception for so many in this country; it's the norm. The lifelong impact of being on the receiving end of such abuse, or a witness to it, cannot be underestimated. Trauma leads to lifelong economic, social and mental health challenges for those impacted.

In my first speech I made it clear that addressing the scourge of family and domestic violence was a priority for me. There is not a corner of this country that does not hold the shadow of this issue. I will not stand here today and pay lip-service. This issue is a deeply personal one. Even though I consider myself to be more than just a statistic, I am one of the one in five women who experience sexual violence before the age of 15. I was groomed and sexually assaulted for almost a decade from the age of eight and grew up in a household of abuse, fear and control. I survived, but it has impacted on my entire life since. It must change. We can't speak of gender equity and ending bias without addressing violence in all its forms against women and their children. It's only when we can directly hear the powerful stories of survivors that we can truly begin to understand the quantum of the problem.

In my home state, sexual assault survivors are gagged by Tasmanian state law from being able to share their experiences in the media. One incredible young Tasmanian woman, Grace Tame, is fighting to change this. Grace was just 15 years old when she was repeatedly raped by her teacher, Nicolaas Bester. Grace has had to fight for years to allow her story to be told, eventually winning a court order allowing her to speak. Standing with Grace has been the incredible Nina Funnell, creator of the Let Her Speak campaign. Together they are leading the fight to change the legislation which is currently under review. I urge the state government to make that change.

It's ironic then that while Grace had to fight to have her voice heard the man who preyed upon her was given an audience in a sympathetic interview with Bettina Arndt, in which she suggested that Grace was 'sexually provocative' towards Bester and has suggested that young women need to 'behave sensibly and not exploit their seductive power to ruin the lives of men'. I have no issue with advocacy and support for men, but Ms Arndt's actions are not that. They do a disservice to good men. They are apologies for predators and are barriers to change. We must do more. This requires commitment and collaboration from governments, the community and individuals.

Funding for vital support is part of the answer, but a commitment to changing the entrenched ideas of our society and eliminating violence should be the wider goal. We know that at the core of gender inequity and bias in all its forms is a basic lack of respect. This was powerfully highlighted by a video released last week. Be alady, narrated by actress Cynthia Nixon, unpacks the many layered and confusing messages that girls and women receive on a daily basis: dress modestly; don't be a temptress; don't be so provocative; you're asking for it. To my own three daughters and to the women and girls of Australia I say this: stand up, make your voice heard and keep fighting for change. And to everyone I say: if you want to see change, let her speak and listen to her voice.

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