Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of Senator McAllister, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) during the coronavirus pandemic, there has been an increase in violence against women and their children,

  (ii) at least 23 women have been murdered so far this year at the hands of a current or former partner in Australia,

  (iii) on average, more than one woman a week is murdered by a current or former partner,

  (iv) violence against women and their children will continue to worsen in the face of job losses, stand-downs and financial stress and uncertainty, and

  (v) domestic and family violence services funding was inadequate before the COVID-19 pandemic; and

(b) calls on the Morrison Government to:

  (i) follow Labor's call to convene a National Summit on violence against women and their children, and

  (ii) urgently provide more support for frontline domestic violence services.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Domestic, family and sexual violence is a scourge and its impact is horrific. All levels of governments, sectors, industries, communities, families and individuals can contribute to changing the statistics related to domestic violence. In March the Commonwealth government moved swiftly to commit $150 million for the COVID-19 domestic and family violence support package. This funding is on top of the $340 million the Commonwealth had already invested in initiatives under the Fourth Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children. While some family and domestic violence services have seen increased demand since the pandemic began, trends across Australian jurisdictions and different service types have been variable. We're now working with the new COAG Women's Safety Council to collectively address the important issues.

Question agreed to.