Australia’s domestic violence commissioner is preparing to present her first report on the issue. As the country’s inaugural domestic violence commissioner readies her annual report on the government’s 10-year national plan, both government and opposition MPs are advocating for more action to combat gender violence.
Justine Elliot, assistant minister for the prevention of family violence, highlighted that over 5,000 calls are made to the police each week to report incidents of “gender violence.” She emphasized the need for increased measures to address the issue, stating, “For too many women, home is the most dangerous place. The life of a woman is different. We’ve had to see, think, and act differently throughout our entire lives out of fear of violence.”
The minister discussed the government’s initiatives over the past two years, such as legislating 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave and expanding single parent payments to support 91,000 Australians, many of whom are women.
Furthermore, the Permanent Leaving Violence Program has assisted 57 percent of recipients in leaving abusive relationships with financial aid. The opposition, led by Deputy Leader Sussan Ley, acknowledged the significance of the domestic violence commissioner’s annual statement and expressed concerns about insufficient action being taken.
Ley addressed Parliament on Aug. 21, highlighting the concerning rise in reported incidents of family and domestic violence, with up to a 16 percent annual increase across Australia. She noted that many women do not report incidents of male violence to the police and that one in four women have experienced violence from an intimate partner since the age of 15.
The opposition leader also emphasized the tragic toll of family and domestic violence, citing the deaths of 35 women and 17 children by male perpetrators this year alone. In response, the government is investing in social housing for women and children fleeing violence, with plans to construct 4,000 social and affordable homes and 720 safe emergency accommodation places nationwide.
Additionally, the government is committed to implementing all recommendations from the Respect@Work report to foster positive workplace environments.
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