Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Chandler for her question. The National Summit on Women's Safety is an absolutely critical step in the development of the next National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Their Children. It will be an ambitious blueprint to stop the scourge that is family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia. The plan will respond to urgent new issues that we are facing today and build a base for emerging and evolving issues in the future.

I'm pleased to advise the Senate that the summit will be held next Monday and Tuesday, 6 and 7 September, in virtual format. Through an online platform it will bring together experts, survivors, advocates and service providers from locations all around Australia. Panels and presentations will be live streamed to enable Australians to engage in this very important milestone in our work towards developing the next national plan. The summit will cover a very broad range of issues, including economic security and financial independence, e-safety, perpetrator interventions and responding to sexual violence—to name but a few.

It's the culmination of extensive consultations and will allow a diverse range of delegates to build a foundation in shaping our next national plan.

Importantly, the summit is an opportunity to put a spotlight on our shared commitment to create a future where women and children live free from violence. We are absolutely committed to work towards a target of zero, to ensure all Australians are safe in their homes, safe at work and safe in our communities. The live stream will be available to watch on 6 and 7 September via womenssafetysummit.com.au. I encourage absolutely everyone who wants to have their say on the next national plan to engage with this very, very important milestone.