Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

on indulgence—I want to support the Prime Minister in his comments that he's just made. I want to say to the member for Warringah: I'm sure that her sentiment is heartfelt but this is not an issue for pointscoring or political difference. The Australian public should hear that there is no difference between either side—anybody in this chamber—in relation to this most serious issue.

Every government, including this government, has dedicated themselves to doing its best to reduce violence through funding, through programs, through innovation, and the support that the Prime Minister expects from all of us is forthcoming—will be forthcoming, Prime Minister. I don't believe it's a fair critique of the government to say that they haven't done enough or that they're not doing enough or that they don't have the intention to act properly in this space. I don't think that's the view of the Prime Minister at all, and I think it mischaracterises the approach of the government, and the approach of the opposition will be to support it.

As the Prime Minister rightly points out, the establishment of Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation was supported on a bipartisan basis, and it saved, literally, thousands of children. It supported women in domestic violence situations where children were being sexually offended against. The strongest message that we can send from this chamber to the Australian public is that we stand united to condemn it.

As the Prime Minister rightly points out, all of us should have conversations, and regular conversations, with our sons, with our nephews, with others that we influence. And we need to call out in the workplace, or anywhere else, the atrocious conversation, demeaning behaviour or conduct that some might seek to pursue. This is not an issue where there is a cigarette paper of difference between the government and the opposition, and nor should there be with the crossbench or with anyone else in this place.

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