Kerrynne Liddle (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The main job of any government is to keep its people safe. Australia remains in the midst of a family and domestic violence epidemic, which is getting worse. New data released by the ABS yesterday revealed that sexual assault rose 17 per cent across Australia between 2022 and 2024. Since 2021, the number of FDV related homicides and offences has risen from 106 to 175. Whatever the number, it's abhorrent.

While the numbers are new, they should not be a surprise to anybody, least of all the Albanese government, given its carriage of the National Plan to End Violence Towards Women and Children and the so-called Rapid Review of Prevention Approaches. Community legal services still turn away more than 1,000 people every day. The $3.9 billion rapid review response announced last September didn't see the majority of funding flowing until 1 July this year to a sector desperate for action over announcements.

The processing of crisis payments for prisoners on release has been three times faster than those for victims-survivors escaping violence. Add to that the greater access to alcohol, drugs and gambling with the removal of the cashless debit card and the lifting of alcohol restrictions in the Northern Territory. The ABS data said that, in 2024, the Northern Territory recorded its highest number of reported sexual assaults in over 30 years. Children are being targeted by organised offenders, while the nation is fragmented on solutions.

Last week I hosted a panel facilitated by the National Children's Commissioner, Anne Hollonds, on child sexual exploitation and trafficking—a significant issue that largely remains hidden and that people remain uncomfortable talking about. I'm also co-convening a parliamentary friends group alongside Labor Senator Ghosh to drive meaningful conversations because so few people in this place immerse themselves in these issues—but they should.