Jo Briskey (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

'I'm struck not by despair but by a profound sense of possibility and urgency.' Those are the words of Australia's Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner in her most recent annual report to this parliament. That report tracks our progress under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032. It is both a stocktake and a call to action.

The scale of the task is clear. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics' personal safety survey, one in four women has experienced violence by an intimate partner since the age of 15 and one in five has experienced sexual violence. One in eight Australians have witnessed violence between a parent and a partner as a child. Behind every statistic is a story of someone trying to stay safe while navigating systems that were not always designed with their safety at the centre. Behind those numbers are lived experiences in communities across the country, where individuals seek safety, stability and dignity.

Ending domestic, family and sexual violence requires early intervention, crisis response, recovery support and prevention. It requires sustained national leadership and a commitment that extends beyond any single policy decision. That is why the Albanese Labor government has committed more than $4 billion since 2022, across prevention, early intervention, response and recovery measures under the national plan. This investment recognises that violence against women and children is not an isolated issue. It intersects with housing, health, education, justice, employment and community wellbeing. Addressing it requires coordinated action across all levels of government and across multiple systems.

It begins with making sure help is there when someone reaches out. 1800RESPECT, the National Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Counselling Service, responded to more than 340,000 contacts last financial year across phone, online chat, SMS and video. Each of those contacts represents a person seeking support, advice and safety. To ensure every contact is answered, the government delivered a 40 per cent funding boost, an additional $41.8 million, bringing the total investment to $146.8 million through to 30 June 2027. That funding expands capacity and supports new communication channels, recognising that not everyone can safely pick up the phone.

But crisis support is only one part of the response. Victims-survivors also need practical support to rebuild their lives. We made the Leaving Violence Program permanent, providing financial assistance of up to $5,000 to help eligible victims-survivors leave violent relationships safely. For many people experiencing violence, financial dependence is one of the most significant barriers to leaving. Access to immediate financial assistance can help people secure temporary accommodation, transport, legal advice or essential items during a time of crisis.

Ten days of family and domestic violence leave is now a permanent entitlement for all employees. We have strengthened protections so that victims-survivors cannot be discriminated against or dismissed because of their experience of violence. No-one should have to choose between safety and a pay cheque. Workplaces play an important role in supporting safety and stability, and these protections recognise that employment security can be a vital part of recovery. We've also acted to prevent the misuse of government payments, recognising that financial control is a core element of coercive control. Ensuring that payments reach the person they are intended to support helps strengthen financial independence and prevents further harm.

Housing is fundamental to safety. Around 40 per cent of people accessing specialist homelessness services have experienced domestic and family violence. Escaping violence must not mean entering homelessness. For too many victims-survivors, the absence of a safe and affordable house can make leaving a violent relationship so much more difficult. Through the Housing Australia Future Fund and related programs, we are delivering thousands of new social and affordable homes nationwide alongside targeted investments in crisis and transitional accommodation. These investments recognise that safe housing is essential for long-term stability and recovery.

We are also holding perpetrators to account with more than $80 million invested in initiatives targeting high-risk and serial offenders, improving risk assessment and intervention. Strong responses to perpetrators are necessary to reduce repeat offending and protect victims-survivors.

Technology-facilitated abuse is one of the fastest-growing forms of harm. The government has strengthened online safety laws, taken action against image based abuse and stalking technologies and continues to support enforcement through the eSafety framework. These reforms recognise that abuse increasingly occurs through digital forms and connected technologies.

We've also introduced the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence, strengthening accountability across universities. Students deserve to pursue education in environments that are safe, respectful and free from violence and harassment.

We are investing in children with funding committed for child focused counselling and recovery services, recognising that early support changes life trajectories. Children who experience violence require specialised support to help them recover and thrive.

Legal assistance also remains a cornerstone. We have committed a record $3.9 billion to the legal assistance sector over five years, including an additional $800 million for family violence and women's legal services. This investment strengthens the ability of community legal centres, legal aid commissions and specialist services to support victims-survivors through complex legal processes.

But reform is only as strong as the workforce that delivers it. Today, the Albanese Labor government announced a 72 per cent funding boost for frontline family, domestic and sexual violence workers. This is a new $291.7 million investment in the next phase of the 500 Workers Initiative. It builds on the $169.4 million invested in the 2022-23 budget to deliver 500 additional frontline workers in every state and territory. This expanded investment recognises the skill, expertise and emotional labour of specialist workers supporting women and children fleeing violence. Frontline workers are the people who answer calls for help, support families in crisis and guide victims-survivors through recovery. Their work is complex and deeply important. Supporting this workforce means ensuring they have the resources and stability needed to continue providing critical services. This funding supports the sustainability and security of this critical workforce, with funding flowing to states and territories from 1 July under the family, domestic and sexual violence federation funding agreement.

The commissioner's report is clear—demand continues to outpace capacity. Nationally, there are approximately 9,000 specialist domestic and family violence workers, yet the majority of cases are still managed across the broader health, justice, housing and policing systems. If we are serious about implementation, about turning plans into protection, we must strengthen and stabilise the front line. That is what this investment does.

Ending gender based violence is not the responsibility of one portfolio or one tier of government. It requires coordination across housing, justice, education, health, employment and social services. It requires prevention, teaching respect and equality early, and it requires accountability. The commissioner reminds us that the challenge is not identifying solutions. We know what works: early intervention, stable housing, economic security, accessible counselling, strong legal protections and perpetrator accountability. The challenge is sustained implementation. There is urgency because the harm is real and ongoing, but there is also possibility because we are building the systems, funding the workforce and embedding accountability. We will continue this work methodically, collaboratively and with resolve until safety is a guarantee for every woman and every child in this country.

See this speech in context