Dan Repacholi (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm supporting this motion from my good friend the member for Lingiari, and I want to commend her for a long, steadfast advocacy for the safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children and communities. This motion is important because it recognises something that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have been saying for decades. They have been calling to be heard, for safety and for action that is led by the community, grounded in culture and shaped by lived experience.

That is why the launch of Our Way—Strong Ways—Our Voices: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Plan to End Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence 2026-2036 is such an important step forward. This is the first standalone national plan focused specifically on ending family, domestic and sexual violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children. It has been developed in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and with states and territories, and it's backed up by serious investment. Most importantly, it's built on the principles that lasting change must come from listening to the communities and backing community led solutions.

The statistics before the House are very confronting. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are far more likely to be victims of intimate-partner homicide. They are far more likely to be hospitalised because of family violence, and the risks are even greater in rural and regional remote communities. Behind every statistic is a life, a family, a child, a community carrying trauma that no-one should ever have to bear. As Special Envoy for Men's Health, I want to speak to one part of this motion in particular, which is that it recognises that we must engage men and boys if we are serious about ending violence. We cannot talk honestly about family, domestic and sexual violence without talking about men's behaviour, responsibility and the need to intervene.

Violence is always a choice. Nothing excuses it. If we want prevention, we must understand the pathways that can lead some men and boys towards using violence and must act earlier to change that path. That is where men's health perspective matters. Good men's health is not just about physical health. It's also about social and emotional wellbeing, connection, healing, respectful relationships and teaching boys that strength is shown through self-control, empathy and responsibility.

Too often, poor mental health, unresolved trauma, substance misuse and rigid ideas about masculinity can combine in very destructive ways. None of that removes accountability, but it tells us that, if we want to stop violence before it starts, we need to support men and boys earlier, particularly those dealing with trauma and disconnect. That is why this plan's investment in programs that help men take responsibility for their actions and build respectful relationships is so important. That's why men's wellness centres, community based healing programs and culturally grounded initiatives matter. And that's why Aboriginal community controlled organisations must be at the centre of this work. The plan also recognises that support must be practical, with mobile teams in remote areas, safe transport and emergency accommodation for women and children to leave violence safely, and support for children to heal from this trauma. Community playgroups where mums and bubs can connect with elders and access early support are also vital.

I also want to acknowledge the women whose strength and advocacy have brought us to this point. For generations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have carried communities through hardship. They have been protectors, they have been teachers and they have been leaders. This plan stands on their shoulders. I thank the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations who helped shape this work, including the steering committee and the community controlled sector. Their leadership gives this plan its strength. This plan also matters because it aligns with Closing the Gap, contributes to reducing family violence and responds to calls for action from key inquiries and reviews. Parliament should support this plan because it's practical and community led.

For those of us who care about men's health, this is also a reminder that the health of men and boys is so important for the safety of women and children. If we want a safer future, we must back women, protect children and help men change. That is what this plan does and that is why I strongly support this motion.

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