❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding the implementation of the Council of Australian Governments' fourth action plan for reducing violence against women and their children, and the McGowan government's commitment to addressing family and domestic violence.
AnsweredQoN 703Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FAMILY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
— COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS — FOURTH ACTION PLAN
703. Mrs J.M.C. STOJKOVSKI to the Minister for Prevention of
Family and Domestic Violence:
I refer to the recent agreement by
the Council of Australian Governments to implement the fourth action plan for
reducing violence against women and their children.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house what this action plan means for the work that the
government is undertaking to reduce family and domestic violence?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this builds on the McGowan Labor government's
unprecedented commitment towards the prevention of family and domestic
violence?
— COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS — FOURTH ACTION PLAN
703. Mrs J.M.C. STOJKOVSKI to the Minister for Prevention of
Family and Domestic Violence:
I refer to the recent agreement by
the Council of Australian Governments to implement the fourth action plan for
reducing violence against women and their children.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house what this action plan means for the work that the
government is undertaking to reduce family and domestic violence?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this builds on the McGowan Labor government's
unprecedented commitment towards the prevention of family and domestic
violence?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member very much for
this question and her interest in this issue.
(1)–(2) The
Premier was at the COAG meeting with other first ministers not long ago and was
able to commit Western Australia to the fourth action plan for reducing
violence against women and their children. This builds on previous work when
there is a national strategy, as there should be, to try to tackle this very
difficult, but persistent, social issue. We are doing what we can in this
state, but we are not the only ones who are experiencing high levels of
domestic violence. It is important that, as much as possible, we have a concerted
effort across the country.
The particular emphasis in the fourth
action plan is on prevention—the idea that we can change attitudes in
our community that have led to the high rates of violence that we see against
women in particular, but, in general, in
family and domestic violence, and also understanding that different people in
our community experience that violence in different ways. For instance,
understanding the context for Aboriginal and culturally and linguistically
diverse communities is going to be really important. If we want to respond
effectively to that violence, we have to understand how, for instance, women
might be able to feel safe to come forward
and seek assistance. That will be different for CALD women and Aboriginal
women, for example. Women with disabilities or older women might have
particular issues that need to be addressed.
Of course, as the member outlined,
the McGowan Labor government has committed significant funds since coming to
office—over $53 million in new funding on top of existing resources—to
tackle domestic violence in our state. There is still a lot to do. I notice
that the federal government has committed a headline figure of $328 million for
the fourth action plan, and, of course, I am doing everything I can to make
sure that it understands what our needs are in Western Australia. Members might
remember that I was critical of the federal government for pulling money from
the keeping women safe in their home program. They have put some of that money
back in, but a lesser amount. We need to make sure that WA gets a share of that
money and, importantly, it is put into evidence-based response, and that we are
united and clear about where we are dedicating these resources.
Members may have seen the news just
last week that a young 26-year-old woman, Kayla Rose Halnan, was shot in Welshpool. It is absolutely tragic. I know
the member for Murray–Wellington knew Kayla Rose, as did her
daughter. It is absolutely tragic. Incredibly, I am not sure whether he was her
boyfriend, but one-time state light heavyweight champion Vencent Caruana has
been charged with that murder, so it is quite likely that domestic violence was
involved. In any case, it is the violent murder of a 26-year-old woman, which
is completely unacceptable. Sometimes these cases get a lot of media and public
attention; other times, they do not. Perhaps people might take the time to
think about Kayla Rose and her family and friends, who I know are devastated by
her death.
this question and her interest in this issue.
(1)–(2) The
Premier was at the COAG meeting with other first ministers not long ago and was
able to commit Western Australia to the fourth action plan for reducing
violence against women and their children. This builds on previous work when
there is a national strategy, as there should be, to try to tackle this very
difficult, but persistent, social issue. We are doing what we can in this
state, but we are not the only ones who are experiencing high levels of
domestic violence. It is important that, as much as possible, we have a concerted
effort across the country.
The particular emphasis in the fourth
action plan is on prevention—the idea that we can change attitudes in
our community that have led to the high rates of violence that we see against
women in particular, but, in general, in
family and domestic violence, and also understanding that different people in
our community experience that violence in different ways. For instance,
understanding the context for Aboriginal and culturally and linguistically
diverse communities is going to be really important. If we want to respond
effectively to that violence, we have to understand how, for instance, women
might be able to feel safe to come forward
and seek assistance. That will be different for CALD women and Aboriginal
women, for example. Women with disabilities or older women might have
particular issues that need to be addressed.
Of course, as the member outlined,
the McGowan Labor government has committed significant funds since coming to
office—over $53 million in new funding on top of existing resources—to
tackle domestic violence in our state. There is still a lot to do. I notice
that the federal government has committed a headline figure of $328 million for
the fourth action plan, and, of course, I am doing everything I can to make
sure that it understands what our needs are in Western Australia. Members might
remember that I was critical of the federal government for pulling money from
the keeping women safe in their home program. They have put some of that money
back in, but a lesser amount. We need to make sure that WA gets a share of that
money and, importantly, it is put into evidence-based response, and that we are
united and clear about where we are dedicating these resources.
Members may have seen the news just
last week that a young 26-year-old woman, Kayla Rose Halnan, was shot in Welshpool. It is absolutely tragic. I know
the member for Murray–Wellington knew Kayla Rose, as did her
daughter. It is absolutely tragic. Incredibly, I am not sure whether he was her
boyfriend, but one-time state light heavyweight champion Vencent Caruana has
been charged with that murder, so it is quite likely that domestic violence was
involved. In any case, it is the violent murder of a 26-year-old woman, which
is completely unacceptable. Sometimes these cases get a lot of media and public
attention; other times, they do not. Perhaps people might take the time to
think about Kayla Rose and her family and friends, who I know are devastated by
her death.
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