❓ Mrs. Clarke asks about the Cook Labor government's actions to prevent family and domestic violence and how the 16 Days in WA campaign assists in raising awareness. The Minister outlines government initiatives since 2017, including legislative changes, increased funding, and support services.
AnsweredQoN 864Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FAMILY AND DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE — 16 DAYS IN WA CAMPAIGN
864. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Prevention of
Family and Domestic Violence:
I refer to the 16 Days in WA
campaign to stop violence against women.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house the actions the Cook Labor government has taken
to prevent family and domestic violence?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how the 16 Days in WA campaign will assist in raising
awareness and challenging underlying attitudes that perpetuate family and
domestic violence?
VIOLENCE — 16 DAYS IN WA CAMPAIGN
864. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Prevention of
Family and Domestic Violence:
I refer to the 16 Days in WA
campaign to stop violence against women.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house the actions the Cook Labor government has taken
to prevent family and domestic violence?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how the 16 Days in WA campaign will assist in raising
awareness and challenging underlying attitudes that perpetuate family and
domestic violence?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the question, and I thank her for her ongoing advocacy in
her community and in this place on the prevention of family and domestic
violence. Raising awareness has been a key aspect of our government's plan to address the issue of family and
domestic violence. We want more victim–survivors to reach out
and access supports. The more we raise awareness, the more that happens, and
that is a good thing. We want to bring it out from the shadows. From day one
when we were elected in 2017, we have been working hard to draw attention to
the issue after it was neglected by the former coalition government.
WA Labor has delivered on its
election commitment to establish the 16 Days in WA campaign, which is now in
its eighth year. The campaign starts on 25 November, the International Day for
the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and runs all the way through to 10 December
coinciding with Human Rights Day. This year's campaign theme is ''Play
your part''. I take this brief opportunity to outline how this
government has worked tirelessly each and every day since 2017 to play its part
in addressing family and domestic violence.
We established the first-ever Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic
Violence , Hon Simone McGurk. Under the leadership of our Attorney
General, we have passed nine new laws to assist victim–survivors of
family and domestic violence and hold perpetrators to account. These included
changes to the Restraining Orders Act to introduce a definition of ''coercive
control'', which was a key step in
our phased approach. In 2020, we delivered the first-ever one-stop hubs where
victim–survivors can access the range of services they need in one spot
and not have to continuously retell their story. We have opened additional
refuges, increasing the number of crisis accommodation units by 30 per cent,
and half of these are in the regions. We have seen a real commitment from
police and corrective services to continue to improve how they can better
support victim–survivors. I acknowledge the current Minister for Police
and, of course, you, Madam, for the important role you both have played in this
government's reform agenda.
We are the first-ever government to
meaningfully invest in primary prevention and early intervention with a fivefold
increase in these activities. We have invested an additional $470 million in
family and domestic violence prevention since coming into office, showing our
Treasurers' strong support. With the support
of the Premier, we established the historic family and domestic violence
taskforce, which developed a five-year
system reform plan that is backed by the sector. The work that is now occurring
is in conjunction with the sector, and we are getting on with the important job
of implementing it. Of course, a range of other measures led by the
Minister for Health, the Minister for Housing and the Minister for Education
support vulnerable women and children fleeing violence.
I encourage all members to visit the
16 Days in WA website and consider what part they can play in helping to stop
family and domestic violence. I am very proud of our record, but there is
always more to do. I will continue to work
to do everything we can to support victim–survivors, hold perpetrators
to account and stop the violence
before it starts. The best way that I can do that each and every day is by
working with my cabinet colleagues as part of a stable, united government. We
will continue to do what is right for WA.
thank the member for the question, and I thank her for her ongoing advocacy in
her community and in this place on the prevention of family and domestic
violence. Raising awareness has been a key aspect of our government's plan to address the issue of family and
domestic violence. We want more victim–survivors to reach out
and access supports. The more we raise awareness, the more that happens, and
that is a good thing. We want to bring it out from the shadows. From day one
when we were elected in 2017, we have been working hard to draw attention to
the issue after it was neglected by the former coalition government.
WA Labor has delivered on its
election commitment to establish the 16 Days in WA campaign, which is now in
its eighth year. The campaign starts on 25 November, the International Day for
the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and runs all the way through to 10 December
coinciding with Human Rights Day. This year's campaign theme is ''Play
your part''. I take this brief opportunity to outline how this
government has worked tirelessly each and every day since 2017 to play its part
in addressing family and domestic violence.
We established the first-ever Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic
Violence , Hon Simone McGurk. Under the leadership of our Attorney
General, we have passed nine new laws to assist victim–survivors of
family and domestic violence and hold perpetrators to account. These included
changes to the Restraining Orders Act to introduce a definition of ''coercive
control'', which was a key step in
our phased approach. In 2020, we delivered the first-ever one-stop hubs where
victim–survivors can access the range of services they need in one spot
and not have to continuously retell their story. We have opened additional
refuges, increasing the number of crisis accommodation units by 30 per cent,
and half of these are in the regions. We have seen a real commitment from
police and corrective services to continue to improve how they can better
support victim–survivors. I acknowledge the current Minister for Police
and, of course, you, Madam, for the important role you both have played in this
government's reform agenda.
We are the first-ever government to
meaningfully invest in primary prevention and early intervention with a fivefold
increase in these activities. We have invested an additional $470 million in
family and domestic violence prevention since coming into office, showing our
Treasurers' strong support. With the support
of the Premier, we established the historic family and domestic violence
taskforce, which developed a five-year
system reform plan that is backed by the sector. The work that is now occurring
is in conjunction with the sector, and we are getting on with the important job
of implementing it. Of course, a range of other measures led by the
Minister for Health, the Minister for Housing and the Minister for Education
support vulnerable women and children fleeing violence.
I encourage all members to visit the
16 Days in WA website and consider what part they can play in helping to stop
family and domestic violence. I am very proud of our record, but there is
always more to do. I will continue to work
to do everything we can to support victim–survivors, hold perpetrators
to account and stop the violence
before it starts. The best way that I can do that each and every day is by
working with my cabinet colleagues as part of a stable, united government. We
will continue to do what is right for WA.
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