Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I take the opportunity to congratulate you on your position and wish you well in that job. My question is to the Minister for Women, Senator Cash. I refer to the announcement of Queensland One Nation's domestic violence policy, which supports violent fathers' visitation rights despite court issued protection orders. This position is outlined on Senator Hanson's One Nation website. Has the Minister for Women spoken with Senator Hanson in regard to this policy?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer, Senator Moore, is, no, I haven't spoken to Senator Hanson in relation to that policy. But, in relation to domestic violence generally, I think that we can all say that it is something that I would hope that each and every one of us in this chamber is committed to absolutely eradicating.

The government's position has been very, very clear. All women and children in Australia need to be safe at home, safe in the streets and safe online. That is very much why the first announcement of the Turnbull government was the $100 million Women's Safety Package. That is, of course, on top of the Third Action Plan under the Commonwealth action plan to reduce violence against women and their children, which we committed a further $100 million to. I certainly hope that all of us in this chamber are absolutely committed to doing everything that we can to ensure that when we do say that women and children in Australia deserve to be safe we are putting in place the policies that will effect that.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Moore, a supplementary question?

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The One Nation candidate for Thuringowa runs a business which recently posted on social media jokes about domestic violence. The posts have been condemned by DVConnect chief executive, Ms Mangan—whom you know, Minister—as 'the legitimising of violence against women and children.' Does the minister agree with Ms Mangan? Although you've not spoken to Senator Hanson yet, is this the issue that you would raise with her?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, I would hope that each and every one of us in this chamber is absolutely committed to ensuring that domestic violence in Australia, whether it is perpetrated against women or, as the case can be—and as Senator Leyonhjelm has raised—against men. It is something that we stand together in solidarity against. In no way is domestic violence ever a joking matter. It is never a matter to be laughed at. That is why the coalition government has been very, very clear since we came to office that we are determined to keep women and children in Australia safe at home, safe in the streets and safe online. To that extent, again, the very first announcement of the Turnbull government was the $100 million Women's Safety Package.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A final supplementary question, Senator Moore?

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given the harmful policies of Queensland's One Nation and its candidates, and given the statements the minister has made already in answers to questions that I've put, will the Minister for Women now condemn her Queensland LNP counterparts for preferencing One Nation in no fewer than 49 seats in the upcoming state election?

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Tell us about Billy Gordon! Sanctimonious hypocrites!

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong on a point of order?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He should withdraw.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong has raised a point of order. Senator McGrath, will you withdraw that comment?

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What am I withdrawing?

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The term you used is unparliamentary.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw 'sanctimonious hypocrites'.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McGrath, it's out of order to repeat the unparliamentary term. Please withdraw.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw 'sanctimonious hypocrites'.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, it's out of order to repeat the term. You just need to withdraw.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In relation to Queensland and the LNP, I am advised that there is no preference deal between the LNP and One Nation in Queensland, and any suggestion of that fact is Labor yet again deliberately muddying the waters. The LNP in Queensland, led ably by Mr Tim Nicholls, have made their position very clear: no deals, no coalition and no shared ministry. But, Senator Moore, in relation to allegations of violence and in particular domestic violence, when those on the other side actually stand up and absolutely condemn Luke Collier and have him thrown out of the CFMEU instead of ensuring he is sent to Western Australian to become the youth advocate, then I might start believing some of those on the other side when they say they don't support domestic violence.