Julia Banks (Chisholm, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In unity and humanity we recognised White Ribbon Day, Australia's campaign to prevent violence against women. Domestic violence is not a private thing; it is a crime.

Many women in my electorate have shared with me their stories of domestic violence, and, in a previous life as a legal practitioner, I provided legal representation for women who were victims of domestic violence. The sheer anguish and fear and the physical hurt of the blows, and the acute psychological trauma of not really feeling safe and not being able to make their children feel safe, was often palpable.

Our greatest strength is in what unites us rather than what divides us. This is a bipartisan matter. Domestic violence penetrates our society and, in acknowledging the courage and suffering of all victims of domestic violence, I also acknowledge the people at Crossway LifeCare, located in Burwood East, in my electorate.

Gail Thannhauser, COO; Dale Stevenson, CEO; Pastor Toby Baxter; Christina Lim and Debbie Uy—together with highly qualified psychologists, social workers and 100 volunteers—do amazing work, including counselling services, financial counselling and training, and community mentoring. Their aim is purely to see women transformed so they can live safely and achieve their potential and participate fully in the community. The LifeCare Women's Empowerment Centre is a safe haven for women and children who are recovering from traumatic violent experiences. The centre provides programs in a supportive environment to assist women to rebuild their lives and flourish.