David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Minister, there's no question that it's acting fast for the Commonwealth government; from drafting instructions on 24 October to being here and having the second day of debate on it on 24 November. In that rush, it appears that there were at least 100 NGOs that weren't heard and weren't considered. I am sure you've heard many of the concerns raised by those NGOs. I will just give you one circumstance that has really struck me and my party, the Greens, as a reason why this should not proceed with haste. I wonder if you have advice on it.

Particularly among the First Nations community, women are often being mischaracterised as the aggressor in instances of family and domestic violence. There are repeated concerns reported about this—women being charged with often serious violent offences, on the basis of retribution or otherwise, in circumstances where defence of themselves and defence of their kids have been mischaracterised as violent acts by themselves. Are you aware of the concerns that have been raised about this?