Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

The coalition also acknowledges that today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It is held on 25 November each year. It signifies the 16 Days of Activism to end gender based violence across Australia. Addressing violence against women remains at the forefront of women's issues around the world and here at home, for as long as women are subject to gender based violence, there can be no genuine gender equality.

This year alone, more than 50 women have allegedly been murdered by a man. As of 16 November, that number was 56. That averages out to be more than one woman per week. But that statistic doesn't paint the full picture because, for every woman murdered, there have been so many more who have lived through violent situations or are currently living through them.

When I delivered this speech last year, I named some of the women whose stories have stuck with me. I hoped that this year would be different, that by some miracle we wouldn't need to mention them. Unfortunately, I was wrong. I still think of Hannah Clarke, Shirley Kidd and Kylie Griffiths. Now I also think of Nikkita Azzopardi, the 35-year-old from South Morang in Victoria. I think of Hannah McGuire, the 23-year-old from Ballarat, and Lilie James, the 21-year-old from Sydney. Unfortunately, there are many more names across our country.

Too many women have been killed as a result of violence, and many more have been assaulted. The numbers are going in the wrong direction, and immediate action is required. These names remind us that, despite our progress as a society, there is still so much more to be done. Family and domestic violence is a plague, and improving the safety of women and girls is above politics. The data shows the urgent need. Reported FDV incidents have risen by 20 per cent nationwide. In my home state, police are called to a family violence incident every five minutes. In the 12 months to November 2024, there were 99,000 family violence reports. Western Australia is forecast to have its highest number ever of family and domestic violence offences on record this year and has a restraining order breached every 44 minutes.

We can and must do better in the interest of the future of all women and all children. We know that the health of Australian women and girls is absolutely critical to their overall wellbeing and ability to fully participate in society. Women should feel safe at home, and when matters of domestic violence arise, they should feel safe and supported in their decision-making, including when leaving a violent relationship. We must ensure policies are announced, implemented and delivered to keep our women and children safe, which requires all levels of government to continue to work together. From bail laws to federally funded support programs, the policy levers span across Commonwealth and state lines.

Ending violence against women and children was a key priority for the coalition government, and in the 2021-22 Women's Budget Statement we invested $1.1 billion to address violence against women and children. This brought the coalition's total investment in family and domestic violence to more than $2 billion since 2013. We supported programs that focused on: prevention; early intervention; response and recovery; funding initiatives like Our Watch, Stop it at the Start, and the Respectful Relationships education online platform; expanding DV alert training; the Escaping Violence payment that was championed by my colleague Senator Ruston; maintaining protection against cross-examinations by family violence perpetrators; and many more vital programs. The coalition will continue in its work with government and the sector to combat the scourge and help women and children escape the violence they are facing. We will demand greater action and hold the government to account for their commitments. The front-line family and domestic violence sector need action, and for government to deliver on the promises that have been made. Australians deserve better and we must do better.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is an important day to recognise. We recognise that the Albanese government promised 500 front-line workers at the 2022 election, and 352 by 30 June 2024, but it has delivered only 336 by 31 October. More needs to be done. This day allows us to shine a light on the issues that millions of women face daily in Australia and around the world. In a country like ours, we can and must do better to tackle violence against women. The coalition, whether in government or in opposition, will work with all parties and parliamentarians to do better against this scourge.