Sharon Claydon MP has this morning moved a motion calling for the elimination of violence against women, marking 16 days of activism against gender-based violence and seeking a fundamental shift in our country’s treatment of women.

She has also read into the Parliamentary Record the names of the additional six women who have been killed by acts of violence since 14 November, when Ms Claydon read her annual speech of the names of Australian women who have been killed this year.

“We have a national crisis when it comes to violence against women in Australia.

“Each year I rise in this house to read the names of the women who have been killed by acts of violence. On 14 November, I read the names of 47 women. Today I read six more.”

“When more than one woman a week is violently killed, usually by an intimate partner or someone close to them, it is beyond time for a national reckoning.”

“The Albanese Labor Government has set ourselves the goal of ending violence against women and children within a generation.

“Australia has never set ourselves an ambition like this before. And it’s not going to be easy.

“But we must try because the status quo is absolutely not good enough.

“This national crisis requires a fundamental shift in our culture, our behaviours and our attitudes towards women.

“And while Government will lead the way, cultural change requires everybody and is the responsibility of us all.

“It’s going to take every level of government, businesses, schools, sports clubs, families and neighbourhoods – every part of our community – to work with us.”

“Let’s work to ensure  our women and children are safe in Australia.”

Details of the Motion:

MS CLAYDON: To move—That this House:

(1) notes that: (a) 25 November 2023 marks the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, beginning 16 days of activism against gender-based violence;

(b) in Australia, it has been publicly reported that approximately 47 women have been killed by acts of violence as of 9 November this year;

(c) one in three Australian women have experienced physical violence perpetrated by a man since the age of 15; and

(d) violence affects women of every age, from every cultural background, with different jobs and levels of education or income, living in different areas and leading different lives;

(2) commends the work of the family, domestic and sexual violence sector, which is delivering vital services to women, children and men;

(3) further notes that the Government is taking immediate and practical steps to prevent violence against women by: (a) investing a record $2.3 billion in this area;

(b) launching the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032;

(c) establishing a dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander action plan;

(d) establishing six ambitious targets to hold all governments to account for progress under the national plan;

(e) reducing the time it takes victim-survivors to access the Escaping Violence Payment;

(f) securing funding for states and territories to deliver frontline services;

(g) increasing support for temporary visa holders experiencing violence from $3,000 to $5,000;

(h) legislating ten paid days of family and domestic violence leave for all employees, including casuals; and

(i) making the family law system simpler and safer for people fleeing family violence; and

(4) acknowledges that there is still more work to done to end violence against women and children, but the Government is committed to ending this scourge within a generation.

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: MARTHA TATTERSALL 0487 807 987

Authorised by SHARON CLAYDON, A.L.P., NEWCASTLE