SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER, MINISTER FOR WOMEN: Thank you very much Chair, distinguished guests, friends – and can I start by commending everyone involved in putting this event together today.
Violence against women is an epidemic in Australia. In 2022-23, one woman was killed every eleven days by an intimate partner. This is devastating.
One life lost to violence is one too many.
Our Government is serious about fixing this, and we have set an ambitious target to end violence against women and children in one generation.
We are one of three countries in the world to appoint a Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner. The Commissioner is listening to those with lived experience of violence and embedding their voices at a national level.
Women should not have to choose between their safety and their job. The Australian Government has legislated Australia’s first paid family and domestic violence leave. This gives all employees an entitlement of ten days of paid family and domestic violence leave each year. This includes part-time and casual employees.
We have also introduced a positive duty on employers to protect their staff and customers from third-party violence or harassment.
Our Government has expanded support for single parents, most of whom are women. This responds to evidence that too often, women experiencing domestic violence are faced with a choice between violence or poverty.
We’re working to improve services and supports for women, and in our first year of government, we’ve invested $2.3 billion in women’s safety.
We are also investing in prevention, especially through education and early intervention programs. Australia’s new national gender equality strategy has women’s safety as its first priority, because we know we cannot make meaningful progress on women’s economic equality or leadership if they are not safe.
We do have a long road ahead of us, but Australia is serious about fixing it through new and innovative solutions and we look forward to learning from each of you as we all tackle this significant problem right across our communities.