Andrew Broad (Mallee, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just recently I wrote to the Prime Minister about the issue of family violence and domestic violence in general, because we have made a commitment to implement a national awareness campaign. My understanding is that that campaign is not due to start until January 2016, and I want that campaign to start sooner. In my electorate, unfortunately, I have the local government areas with the second, third and fourth highest rates of family violence in the state of Victoria.

Honourable Member:

An honourable member interjecting—

Andrew Broad (Mallee, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I do—in Mildura, Horsham and Swan Hill. I want a campaign that will certainly hit the nerve and tell blokes that this is just not on and that we can do better. I would like a trial of this campaign to run out in my electorate. I think there is also a legitimate discussion about having a domestic violence offenders register, just like a sex offenders register—name and shame these bastards—and GPS ankle bands for those who are repeat offenders.

I want to say to the offenders in my electorate, in a language that you can understand: you fellows cannot punch or kick your woman. That is just not going to be tolerated. I want the national awareness campaign to commence sooner, I want a trial in my electorate and I have written to the Prime Minister to make this known. We as a country can do better.