Source : Perth Now news
Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault stand to benefit from a renewed nationwide push against a growing scourge.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will put domestic and family violence on the agenda at a national cabinet meeting on Wednesday, which will include premiers and chief ministers from across the country.
“Every woman and every girl has the right to feel safe and must be safe at all times,” Mr Albanese said in Question Time on Thursday.
States have the majority of responsibility for providing preventative community services, but the federal government has funded hundreds of new workers since 2022 to tackle the problem.
Mr Albanese said some state governments saw an injection of federal funding as a reason to pause their own expenditure.
“I will raise that very directly with the premiers,” he said.
The number of sexual violence incidents reported to police rose by 70 per cent between 2010 and 2024.
Men under 20 are some of the most likely to offend, and people aged between 10 and 16 make up almost 40 per cent of sexual assault victims.
Crossbench MPs Allegra Spender and Zali Steggall pleaded with the government on Thursday to install better accountability mechanisms for anti-violence recommendations.
They also called for the Domestic, Sexual and Family Violence Commission to be given powers to compel information relating to allegations.
“We cannot keep responding to violence against women with condolences after another woman is killed and then move on,” Ms Steggall said.
Negative messaging shared to young boys online was a key concern, Social Services Minister Tania Plibersek told News24 on Thursday.
She encouraged institutions to take sexual assault seriously and follow up on allegations.
“That sends a really strong positive message to young boys,” she said.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Men’s Referral Service 1300 766 491
