Andrew Gee (Calare, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I commend the member for Warringah for bringing this motion to this House. This year in Australia more than 30 women have been murdered through gender based violence. Half of those women have been in regional parts of our country. Devastatingly, that's an average of two women killed every week. These are truly shocking statistics.

Our region has been deeply affected by the senseless and tragic taking of Molly Ticehurst's life in Forbes recently. One of the things that this motion calls for is more support for the legal services that support women in our communities. As a current member of the New South Wales bar, I've seen—

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Proceedings suspended from 11:02 to 11:14

As I was noting before the division, one of the things that the member for Warringah's motion calls for is more support for the legal services that support women in our community, and, as a member of the New South Wales bar, I've seen the devastating impact that domestic violence has on victims and also the real difference that legal support can make to the lives of victims. Legal support can be absolutely crucial in making that difference.

So I want to focus, in the time available to me today, on drawing the attention of the House to the crucial need to bolster legal services for victims of gender based and domestic violence in our communities. I had some correspondence from Jarah Maraschio, who is a family law and violence solicitor from Western Women's Legal Support in Dubbo. The letter that I received from Jarah stated:

Every day, my colleagues and I witness the devastating impact of domestic and sexual violence on women's lives. We meet survivors who have been failed by the very systems designed to protect them—the courts, the police and their partners. The death of Molly Ticehurst serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive legal assistance, safety planning, advocacy, and support for women in rural and regional areas.

However, despite steadfast dedication, Western Women's Legal Support faces significant challenges in fulfilling its mission. With only nine staff numbers, most of whom work part-time, and covering a vast geographic area comparable to the size of Korea, the organisation's resources are stretched thin. It operates on a tight budget, unable to afford essential expansions to office space or additional staff to meet the growing demand for its services.

The funding shortfall we face is not merely a financial issue; it is a matter of life and death.

I was also sent some case studies which highlight the vitally important work that organisations such as Western Women's Legal Support undertake. One of the case studies that I was forwarded involves the case of Ms S, who was referred to the Western Women's Legal Support service through a local primary school in 2019:

Ms S had been married to the offender for 10 years …and they had 2 children together.

They had moved to Australia from overseas. The case study continues:

During Ms S's time in Australia she had been made to stay at home at all times (other than to take the children to school) and instructed not to speak to anyone. Consequently, her English was poor. Parties rented two rooms in a share house of foreign workers. Ms S and the children were confined to the bedroom. She was not permitted to use electricity at the property and spent her days washing clothes by hand and cooking outside on the BBQ.

Ms S was not allowed access to money. She was not permitted to go shopping or anywhere alone. On the rare occasion she was permitted to grocery shop with her husband she was not allowed to touch anything or request anything be purchased for her.

Over the course of numerous appointments with Ms S she disclosed some of the most horrific physical, emotional, mental, sexual, financial and psychological abuse our unit has ever encountered.

Ms S had numerous legal and non-legal issues. With the permission of Ms S we engaged numerous legal services and coordinated Ms S and the children's ultimate removal from the property and away from her husband.

The case study goes on to reveal that Ms S ultimately went to police, with the support of the legal service, and made a statement, and the offender was criminally charged as a result of the abuse. The case study continues:

Our lawyers and caseworkers assisted with housing applications, Centrelink matters, child support exemptions, an additional application for victims support for the sexual abuse (distinct from the DV). We provided assistance with court prep and court support and advised Ms S in relation to family law.

Getting Ms S out of that situation took a lot of planning and a lot of work, and it was no doubt a very harrowing experience for everyone involved in that. The case study goes on to state:

Ms S's story took the dedication and collaboration of legal services, casework services, housing providers, DV refuge staff, Police and various Government agencies all working together. This case, whilst ultimately a positive one, really demonstrates how one service working in isolation cannot wholly support victim survivors and their multiple complex needs.

That is from Western Women's Legal Support.

I've also heard from other organisations in the region—the Central Tablelands and Blue Mountains Community Legal Centre, Yoorana Gunya Family Healing Centre Aboriginal Corporation and Binaal Billa. They have stated that urgent support for frontline legal services, community services and refuges is absolutely vital. Taylor Bliss from Yoorana Gunya Family Healing Centre Aboriginal Corporation and Binaal Billa Family Violence Prevention Legal Services in Forbes expressed the profound impact of such systemic failures, stating: 'The death of Molly in our small town is devastating. The legal system continues to let women down. How many more victims need to die before there is change to the justice system?'

Arlia Fleming, who is a solicitor and chief executive officer of the Central Tablelands and Blue Mountains Community Legal Centre, said: 'As legal service providers for victims-survivors, we often find ourselves grappling with the challenge of ensuring safety. With refuges at full capacity, limited police intervention and insufficient community resources to provide support for women and children or hold perpetrators accountable, the options are severely limited.' Ms Fleming went on to state: 'Without adequate resources we are unable to meet the increasing demand for our services, leaving many disadvantaged individuals and families without the support they desperately need.' She said: 'We already have a consistent three-week waitlist. Without access to our services, victims-survivors may be forced to remain in unsafe environments. Furthermore, without early intervention and support, the long-term social and economic costs of domestic and family violence will continue to escalate.' Importantly, she also stated: 'We implore government stakeholders at all levels to recognise the urgency of this situation and prioritise funding for frontline services like ours.'

They have said it more eloquently than I could, but the message is clear: more resources are needed for those frontline services, including frontline legal services. It can make a real difference to the lives of victims and also their children. We need to act. All over the central west we have seen a huge outpouring of support for immediate action on gender based violence and domestic violence. The message from across Australia could not be clearer. I implore all members of this parliament to do whatever they can to get more funding to the front lines where it's needed and take action so that we can finally put an end to this.

I commend the member for Warringah for bringing this motion to the House. This has to be an ongoing and sustained effort. I implore all members, from whatever party, to take action in their communities and in this place to end gender based violence.

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