Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I acknowledge Senator Waters's question, but I also say that this government, and I think those opposite, will not be politicising the events of last week. As the finance minister said in his statement before question time, the Commonwealth has, in the fourth action plan, made the largest contribution to addressing violence against women and their children, with a $340 million contribution. It covers a range of factors. It covers improving and building on frontline services. It covers prevention strategies to help eradicate domestic and family violence in our homes, our workplaces, our communities and our clubs. It covers support and prevention measures for ATSI communities, funded under the Indigenous Advancement Strategy. There is funding to provide safe places for people impacted by domestic and family violence, funding for 1800RESPECT, funding for dedicated men's support workers in family advocacy and support services locations, and funding to better support former partners of veterans who are impacted by domestic violence.

There are a number of other measures that will contribute to improved safety for women and girls. There is funding of $1.2 billion over three years from the Commonwealth for legal assistance services, including delivering that through a new single mechanism that allows for a more collaborative, innovative and effective legal assistance sector to address the legal needs of the most vulnerable. There is $10 million for practical, on-the-ground improvements to online safety for Australian children and their families.

There is more that I could add, particularly in relation to the national implementation plan, but I also want to say that the recognition, which goes across government at the Commonwealth level and also at the state and territory levels, is that the complexity of this challenge and the complexity of the problem that we are dealing with is much more than about funding. (Time expired)