Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senators McCarthy and Siewert, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) observes that:

(i) this week marks Ochre Ribbon Week, raising awareness of the devastating impacts of family violence in First Nations communities and calling for action to end the violence against First Nations, especially our women and children, and

(ii) the Ochre Ribbon Campaign is an initiative supported by the National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services Forum and its member organisations across Australia;

(b) recognises:

(i) that First Nations women are 32 times more likely to be hospitalised from family violence, and 10 times more likely to be killed as a result of violent assault,

(ii) the damaging impacts of intergenerational trauma, invasion and racism on First Nations communities, and

(iii) that First Nations men and women are working to address family violence and community safety at the grassroots and their efforts should be supported; and

(c) calls on the Morrison Government to:

(i) ensure all First Nations women have access to culturally-safe, specialist legal services, regardless of where they live, and

(ii) develop justice targets to reduce family violence and incarceration rates in First Nations communities.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government already funds specialist legal services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women impacted by domestic violence, but we also focus investment on holistic care and support as well as important prevention services. In relation to a justice target, the government has already worked with the state and territory governments to ensure targets related to the justice system, including family and domestic violence, are part of the Closing the Gap Refresh.

Question agreed to.