Pat Conaghan (Cowper, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—Firstly, I'd like to thank the member for Macquarie for her fine words in relation to this report. I'd like to thank all the witnesses and particularly the victims-survivors who gave evidence. It is unimaginable, as a male, to be able to understand what many of you have been through. Thank you for putting yourselves out there to enable us to act on your behalf to make these important changes that are needed. Your evidence was incredibly valuable but, sadly, unsurprising.

Despite the changes over the past few years, there are failures within the system, and it is still lacking. The system does not provide the supports that are required to ensure that other victims-survivors and other victims are receiving the protection and the attention that they so desperately need. We heard through the inquiry that things such as real-time updating still don't exist in 2025. Failures in the system between states and territories, and the lack of communication, allow for abuse to continue in the system. Failures in the act allow for abuse of procedure to continue the trauma of victims. The procedure at court fails to protect and prevent further trauma or harm to victims-survivors. These are the things that we heard from you, and these form part of the recommendations to strengthen those systems and provide the protections for those suffering from this horrible scourge.

I do note that there was no dissenting report; it was unanimous. The committee worked well together because we all understand this issue is above politics. We cannot be partisan when trying to rid Australia of domestic violence. I've said that despite these efforts, despite the funding, only 17 per cent of the some $5 billion goes towards prevention and intervention. And whilst we need the adequate funding for the response and the recovery, until we adequately address prevention and intervention, dollar for dollar, then unfortunately these committees and these inquiries will continue.

That funding needs to address men because, let's face it, men are the problem, but men can also be the solution. We need a nationally accredited men's behavioural program, and that needs to be funded. We need a specialised workforce trained in delivering men's programs—men educating men—and we also need a national curriculum in respectful relationships. For a child going to school today in kindergarten, we need to travel with them until they reach university, to educate them in respectful relationships, not just men but men and women, to understand what good relationships look like, and that will take a generation. We need to fund prevention and intervention, dollar for dollar, as we do response and recovery.

Again, I'd like to thank all the witnesses. I'd like to thank the committee, and I'd also like to thank the secretariat for their excellent work. I commend the report to the House.

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