❓ Mr. Love questions the Premier about the increase in domestic violence cases since 2017, accusing the government of inaction. The Premier defends the government's record, highlighting investments and initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 596Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FAMILY AND DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE
596. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I refer to claims by the former
Premier in September 2017 that domestic violence was at crisis level, with
cases at an alarming 32 597, and note the more than 25 per cent increase in
cases since that time.
(1) How does the
Premier explain his government's dangerous inaction, which has led to
this increase and is failing Western Australians?
(2) Is it
excusable that what the government's former leader referred to as a crisis
has been left to worsen under this Premier's watch?
VIOLENCE
596. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I refer to claims by the former
Premier in September 2017 that domestic violence was at crisis level, with
cases at an alarming 32 597, and note the more than 25 per cent increase in
cases since that time.
(1) How does the
Premier explain his government's dangerous inaction, which has led to
this increase and is failing Western Australians?
(2) Is it
excusable that what the government's former leader referred to as a crisis
has been left to worsen under this Premier's watch?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Domestic violence is a scourge on our community.
It is something that we all stand united against. Violence of any form
is not acceptable, but violence in the home is one of the more insidious forms.
The place that one goes to for comfort and
security should not be the place where one fears any form of violence.
Therefore , it is not surprising that this government has done so much
work in this area and will continue to do more. We were the first Western Australian
government to appoint a Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence. We were the first government to
put in place the 16 Days in WA program, which is an important opportunity for
everyone in the community to build their awareness and understanding of domestic
violence so that we can all stand against it together. This government has
invested over $200 million since 2017 and brought in a raft of legislation and
measures to protect victims of family and domestic violence, whether through
protecting their rights as tenants to change locks in the event they are a victim
of family and domestic violence, the one-stop hubs that allow people to get all
the support they need in a single place without having to shop around, or the
current pilot program around forensic services to understand people who are
subject to sexual assault. A whole range of measures, right across the board,
go to the heart of our commitment to make sure that we stand against domestic
violence.
These
are difficult issues and they will not change overnight, but our government has
done more than any government before it to put measures in place to
support the victims of family and domestic violence, provide extra resources to those who work on the front line and expand
those services through the expansion of the number of women's
refuges and safe places. We are making sure that we are doing the things that
are important—that is, listening to the victims of family and domestic
violence, acting on their concerns and
making sure that the government is doing all it can to stand against family and
domestic violence. This is a deep cultural problem that is impacting on
our community. I am pleased that people feel more able to report incidents of
family and domestic violence. If we are to take comfort from anything, that
must be the opportunity. Let us not for a moment rest on our laurels; let us
take this opportunity to continue to do more, and we will do more.
It is something that we all stand united against. Violence of any form
is not acceptable, but violence in the home is one of the more insidious forms.
The place that one goes to for comfort and
security should not be the place where one fears any form of violence.
Therefore , it is not surprising that this government has done so much
work in this area and will continue to do more. We were the first Western Australian
government to appoint a Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence. We were the first government to
put in place the 16 Days in WA program, which is an important opportunity for
everyone in the community to build their awareness and understanding of domestic
violence so that we can all stand against it together. This government has
invested over $200 million since 2017 and brought in a raft of legislation and
measures to protect victims of family and domestic violence, whether through
protecting their rights as tenants to change locks in the event they are a victim
of family and domestic violence, the one-stop hubs that allow people to get all
the support they need in a single place without having to shop around, or the
current pilot program around forensic services to understand people who are
subject to sexual assault. A whole range of measures, right across the board,
go to the heart of our commitment to make sure that we stand against domestic
violence.
These
are difficult issues and they will not change overnight, but our government has
done more than any government before it to put measures in place to
support the victims of family and domestic violence, provide extra resources to those who work on the front line and expand
those services through the expansion of the number of women's
refuges and safe places. We are making sure that we are doing the things that
are important—that is, listening to the victims of family and domestic
violence, acting on their concerns and
making sure that the government is doing all it can to stand against family and
domestic violence. This is a deep cultural problem that is impacting on
our community. I am pleased that people feel more able to report incidents of
family and domestic violence. If we are to take comfort from anything, that
must be the opportunity. Let us not for a moment rest on our laurels; let us
take this opportunity to continue to do more, and we will do more.
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