Libby Coker (Corangamite, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the start of the 16 days of activism against gender based violence. It's a powerful reminder of the crisis facing countless women and families—a crisis that demands reflection and action. For some, this fight is deeply personal, but all of us must tackle family violence. It is a scourge in our society, and it must end.

That's why the Albanese government has made record investments to tackle family, domestic and sexual violence, making the safety of women and children a national priority. We're delivering almost $4.4 billion in new funding to address gender based violence, investing in frontline legal services and housing initiatives to prevent violence. This is on top of our $4 billion in funding to support the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children.

It's not just about dollars; it's also about legislative reform like 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave so that women don't have to choose between their job and their safety and improving family law so it's safer and fairer and less adversarial for women giving evidence. Of course, there is always more to do, and every day we must stand together to build an Australia were all women and girls are safe and free from violence.

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