Following our calls last week for the Prime Minister to convene an urgent meeting of the National Cabinet to deal with the worsening domestic violence crisis, we thank State, Territory and Commonwealth leaders for coming together today.
The Federal Opposition welcomes the additional Commonwealth funding and related initiatives which were announced. We desperately want all governments to be successful in their domestic violence policy responses because that will mean better outcomes for all women and children in this country, especially victim-survivors.
The Prime Minister must deliver on the commitments he has already made in this space and we are particularly worried about a lack of progress on the delivery of 500 new domestic violence frontline workers, promised by him two years ago.
The front page of today’s West Australian suggests that the Prime Minister can’t even nominate a figure on how many of these promised 500 workers are on the ground right now. Less than two months ago, Minister Rishworth was forced to reveal the number was just 17.
The Deputy Opposition Leader and Shadow Minister for Women Sussan Ley said whilst the actions announced today were welcome, more needed to be done.
“The National Cabinet meeting today was a start and announcing a future meeting in coming months to report back is the right decision, but we need the government to deliver more in early intervention and prevention initiatives.
“Access to pornography and graphic content online at an early age is exposing children to sexual abuse, making them vulnerable as victims and potential future perpetrators. This new phenomenon is not being adequately addressed.
“Whilst we want the government to succeed in every domestic violence initiative it undertakes, it is our responsibility to scrutinise the Prime Minister’s missteps so that his government can be better. That is why we continue to urgently ask Anthony Albanese to provide an update on the progress of the promised 500 frontline workers and an explanation on why the commitment is tracking so poorly.
“Australia is the best country in the world but we have to be able to look in the mirror and when half the population is saying they feel unsafe, then fixing that must be the first priority of all governments.”
The Shadow Minister for Child Protection and the Prevention of Family Violence, Senator Kerrynne Liddle welcomed this investment as a crucial step towards combating the scourge of family and domestic violence.
“There is no excuse for violence and we will work with the Government to help end the national crisis of family and domestic violence. The Coalition will be closely monitoring implementation.
“The Albanese Labor Government has a track record of making big announcements and failing to deliver on them.
“The Prime Minister must urgently focus on the rollout of the 500 frontline community workers that he promised two years ago and place greater emphasis on early intervention and men’s prevention programs as well as perpetrator response.”
Senator Liddle also said children are too often forgotten in family and domestic violence response.
“The Prime Minister is of course right to limit children’s access to pornography and violent online content but this should have been done months ago.”
Shadow Minister for Communications David Coleman welcomed the backflip from the Albanese Government on age verification.
“We’ve been making the case to back the eSafety Commissioner’s recommendation ever since the Government rejected it back in August last year. It should also be remembered that in November, the Government opposed our legislation on age verification.
“That said, I am glad that they have had a change of heart because it’s the right thing to do. The recommendation from the eSafety Commissioner landed on the Minister’s desk over a year ago. It was always the right thing to do to progress age verification. It’s just a pity it took so long to reach this decision.
“We need to get moving urgently on age verification, which will be central to Australia’s online safety future.”
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Joint Media Release
The Hon Sussan Ley MP
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Minister for Women
Shadow Minister for Industry, Skills and Training
Shadow Minister for Small and Family Business
Federal Member for Farrer
The Hon David Coleman MP
Shadow Minister For Communications
Federal Member for Banks
Senator Kerrynne Liddle
Shadow Minister for Child Protection
And The Prevention of Family Violence
Senator for South Australia