Justine Elliot (Richmond, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to acknowledge the extraordinary work of Rotary clubs in my electorate. Today, I want to speak particularly about the Rotary Club of Ballina-on-Richmond. My good friend, the wonderful Dave Harmon, is a former governor of Rotary district 9640, of which Ballina branch is a member.

Last year, I hosted Dave and his wife Robyn, and members of the Ballina Rotary club and many other Rotary clubs, right here in parliament to launch their campaign: Rotary Says NO to Domestic Violence. This campaign, which originated in my electorate, is a tremendous example of a community led campaign that aims to increase the awareness of domestic violence in each and every neighbourhood, right across the country.

Since launching the campaign in November last year, Dave Harmon and the Ballina Rotary club have stopped at absolutely nothing to spread the word of their campaign. Rotary Ballina have encouraged businesses, community groups and sporting teams right across the electorate—everyone—to join in what they call Purple Shirt Friday. It's a great initiative. On Purple Shirt Friday individuals and businesses proudly wear a purple shirt with the powerful message: 'Say no to domestic violence.' These shirts have started hundreds if not thousands of life-changing conversations, proving that community led campaigns such as this can make a real difference. The impact is massive. Indeed, they were recognised earlier this year at the Ballina Shire Council Australia Day Awards, receiving the Community Event of the Year Award, a fantastic achievement for the work they're doing. Rotary Ballina has also created a toolkit to assist members in responding to domestic and family violence. The toolkit contains vital information, including contact details for specialist referral services, and toolkits have been received by more than 1,300 Rotarians.

Rotary Ballina hasn't stopped there. Over the past year, Dave Harmon has been meeting with a whole variety of organisations, governments and police services, including the New South Wales police and, most recently, the Queensland police to discuss establishing a memorandum of understanding. In very exciting news, just last week Dave informed me that Rotary and the New South Wales police have formalised a three-year partnership and the Queensland police will provide formal support for the Rotary Says No to Domestic Violence campaign. Due to the campaign's significant success, Dave also recently told me that the regional council of Rotary Zone 8, which Ballina club sits within, has committed to this campaign for the next three years. That's incredible dedication from these Rotary clubs. It is amazing, the extent to which they have reach, and it really speaks to Dave's activities and how truly inspirational he, his wife, Robyn, and the entire Rotary team at Ballina are, considering it was less than a year ago that it was launched.

As the Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, I know full well the huge investment this government has made to eliminate violence against women and children in one generation. Our commitment is backed by an investment of more than $3.4 billion but our government can't do this alone, as we've repeatedly said. We need businesses, community groups and all individuals to step up and work with us to make this vital change right throughout the nation. That's why I'm really proud to have in my electorate the Ballina Rotary club with this incredible initiative. In particular, I want to thank Dave Harmon for his community led action and the difference it's making every day throughout our region. They are essentially transforming the lives of so many people, and they've told me firsthand that many people in businesses are wearing the shirts on Purple Shirt Friday. They'll start conversations with people, and they can then refer them for some assistance. It has really taken off. A lot of the Rotary clubs on the North Coast are wearing the Purple Shirt Friday shirts, and a lot of conversations are being had right across the community. As I said, the inspirational work of Dave is truly phenomenal, and I certainly look forward to continuing to work with him. The national day of action for Rotary Pacific is on Friday 29 November, and I encourage all members to show their support.

I know that Dave and the Rotary club of Ballina receive widespread bipartisan support, as well. At his launch there were members from right across the parliament. I know that everyone in this House is committed to ending violence against women and children in one generation. They were all there for the launch to show their support and to show that we are all standing together. I commend Dave and everyone at the Rotary Club of Ballina-on-Richmond for this great initiative and the work they are doing. It will be great if we can all wear purple shirts on Fridays to make a difference in each and every community right across the nation.

Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind all members in the chamber not to use props.