Lisa Darmanin (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yesterday marked the start of 16 days of activism against gender based violence. Violence against women is prevalent, pervasive and persistent. One in three Australian women have experienced violence. Counting Dead Women report that 66 women have died due to violence against women this year. It's a national crisis and it is our national shame.

The government is committed to ending gender based violence in one generation. It is a multifaceted problem which requires a multipronged approach—both action and investment. We need to support women leaving violence. I'm especially proud this government has amended the Fair Work Act so that all workers are entitled to 10 days of paid family violence leave. This entitlement was first enshrined in Victoria by the Surf Coast Shire Council, when a courageous Australian Services Union delegate shared her experience of family violence. It is the kind of entitlement I hope no worker ever needs to access, but I am reassured this connection to economic support is there for those who do.

This government is also providing up to $5,000 in financial support to women leaving violence and has invested billions into housing for women and children impacted. We've increased funding to community legal services and the community sector. The contributions of the workers in this sector are invaluable. This is a shout-out to the extraordinary, passionate workers who apply their professionalism and their passion every single day to address this scourge in our society.

Finally, we have to stop it before it starts. We're investing $4 billion in early intervention and targeting the social factors which drive violence. We know change doesn't happen overnight, but we prioritise it because it's urgent. Even one woman killed by violence is one too many.