Senate debates

Wednesday, 19 September 2018

Motions

Domestic and Family Violence

3:37 pm

Photo of Peter GeorgiouPeter Georgiou (WA, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Before I move this motion I seek leave to add the name of Senator Storer.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Leave is granted; so added.

Photo of Peter GeorgiouPeter Georgiou (WA, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Storer, move:

That the Senate:

(a) notes that a 2018 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report found family and domestic violence affected one in five Australian women and one in nine Australian men;

(b) notes that the AIHW report states that, since age 15, one in six women and one in 16 men have experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or previous partner;

(c) acknowledges that the number of Western Australians who have died from family violence related incidents has sky-rocketed to 23 this year, more than double that of last year's number (11);

(d) acknowledges that family violence leads to a higher rate of homelessness for victims, especially women and children;

(e) urges the Federal Government to provide more relief housing for victims of domestic violence; and

(f) calls on the Federal Government to fill the data-sharing gaps as outlined in the AIHW report to better understand people at risk and identify the services they need.

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Photo of Peter GeorgiouPeter Georgiou (WA, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Last week five people were killed in an incident of family violence in the Perth suburb of Bedford. This incident brings the total number of family-violence-related deaths to 23, which is double that of last year. One in six women and one in 16 men are victims of family violence. These victims are often driven out of their homes and need to find a safe place to stay. A recent survey found that 74 per cent of crisis accommodation providers were unable to provide accommodation to those who need it. Some crisis care organisations had to turn away one person for every person they accommodate. Today I call on the federal government to commit more funds to address the critical shortage of crisis care.

3:38 pm

Photo of Anne RustonAnne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Photo of Anne RustonAnne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | | Hansard source

The Commonwealth continues to work with the states and territories to address family and domestic violence, including through the provision of funding for services and research to better understand the impacts of family and domestic violence. Relief housing is the responsibility of the states and the territories.

Question agreed to.