Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

(—) (): My question is to the Minister for Women, Senator Gallagher. It's day 3 of the UN's 16 days of activism campaign for the elimination of violence against women. This year 54 women have been killed already, including six in just one week this month. It's clear we need more funding for prevention work with respectful relationships education in schools and prevention work in sporting clubs, workplaces and all areas of society. In the response space, the women's safety sector have long called for $1 billion a year in funding for frontline support services to meet demand and to ensure everyone who seeks help fleeing violence can get it. In budget estimates this year, the department confirmed the total federal funding commitment to prevent violence against women over the next five years is only $2.23 billion, less than half the $5 billion the sector needs to ensure no-one who seeks help is turned away. Why is the government not spending $1 billion a year on women escaping violence? (Time expired)