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

At the request of Senators McAllister and Waters, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) 25 November 2020 marked the UN's International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, beginning the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence,

(ii) there have been approximately 45 domestic violence homicides this year,

(iii) one in three Australian women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence perpetrated by a man since the age of 15,

(iv) the COVID-19 pandemic has escalated domestic abuse, with more women accessing online services, and more men seeking support for abusive behaviour, and

(b) commends the work of the family, domestic and sexual violence sector, which continues delivering vital services to men, women and children amidst the pandemic;

(c) acknowledges that many organisations are struggling to meet the demand for services but the Australian Government provided no additional funding in the budget; and

(d) urges the Australian Government to:

(i) listen to the family violence sector and respond to their calls for more support to help women and children flee violence,

(ii) ensure the full resources of government are used to eliminate family violence from our community,

(iii) abandon its friendless plan to effectively abolish the family court, and

(iv) introduce 10 days paid domestic leave.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) 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.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Domestic and family violence is a scourge and its impact is horrific. This government swiftly committed $150 million for a domestic-violence-specific COVID-19 support package, now fully distributed to states and territories. This funding is on top of the $340 million the Commonwealth had already invested in the 4th action plan initiative and the new ongoing 1800RESPECT funding in the 2020-21 budget. On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the government also announced the three new providers of specialised family violence services in the Northern Territory.

Question agreed to.