Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I've discussed this with the Leader of the Opposition, and I'm sure the member for Griffith would agree. I wish us all to take a moment to remember Hannah Clarke and her three children, Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey. Tomorrow marks one year since that vile and terrible crime—that terribly violent, unspeakable and unthinkable crime—was committed against them. In response to that crime last year, I said in this place that the words 'family' and 'violence' just jar. Those words should never be together, but sadly they so often are. Those words have nothing to do with each other, because our families should be the safest place in all of the world. But for so many, including in this place, that has not been the case, and that is a profound sadness. Sadly, this was absolutely not the case for Hannah and her children, and for so many others. All we can do is extend our love to Hannah's family and seek to reach out to them. I extend to them, through the member for Griffith, the House's kindest regards and deepest affection, and commend Hannah again for how she led us all a year ago.

The most important thing we can do in this place is, of course, do everything we can. As the Leader of the Opposition and I know, these issues are above politics, thankfully. We must do all we can to prevent family violence and to support those suffering it, working together with the states and territories across this chamber on the next National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children and producing more support for women in particular and their children, who are most at risk of experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence. Hannah, Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey, we remember you. We will never forget.

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