David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to applaud the Jacqui Lambie Network senators, Senator Lambie and Senator Tyrrell, on the way that they consult with their community and bring the community's concerns and ideas into the Senate. We are certainly richer for it, and it's really important to talk these through. I hold similar concerns. On consulting with my community here in the ACT, speaking to experts and frontline workers, the overwhelming consensus is that it is important to call it family and domestic violence leave.

Senator Lambie raises an important point that I'm keen to get clarification on from the government. Senator Watt, you talked about reasonable proof to be able to access this leave. Knowing how stretched our frontline domestic violence services are, I'm assuming that in most instances women will go to frontline services and speak to them, to get some sort of letter of reference or support or share some of the casework. Given how stressed they are, does this legislation come with a commitment to better funding of frontline services—not just better funding but longer-term funding? A lot of local organisations are surviving on 12-month or, at most, two-year funding cycles, which makes it very hard to keep a workforce in the current climate.