Ian Goodenough (Moore, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I refer to the Prime Minister 's statement on domestic and family violence last week in response to recent tragic events. I take this opportunity to advocate for additional resources and funding on behalf of the Patricia Giles Centre, which operates in the northern suburbs of Perth, particularly within my electorate, providing a range of support services to assist victims of family and domestic violence in our community. Both capital and operational funding are required to support the work of the Patricia Giles Centre as part of the federal budget.

The centre provides safe accommodation, housing support, counselling, a crisis response service, group programs and Newstart kits for women and children escaping family violence and abuse. During the 2018-19 year, the Patricia Giles centre assisted 1,423 clients, with 213 women and 499 children admitted to refuges.

Australian police deal with domestic violence every two minutes. Violence against women is estimated to cost the Australian economy $22 billion a year. I make a strong case based on merit for federal funding to be allocated as part of the upcoming federal budget process to support the local work of the Patricia Giles Centre and to support victims of domestic and family violence nationally.