Fatima Payman (WA, Australia's Voice) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was shocked but not surprised when I read this morning's Sydney Morning Herald headline: 'Chalmers' razor gang eyes cuts to legal services for DV victims'. It is a disgraceful headline. We are not three months into 2026, and already 16 women have been murdered. To even contemplate cutting funding for domestic violence victims-survivors is reprehensible. Government backbenchers rightly celebrate on social media that this is a majority-female government, but representation means nothing if these same Labor women turn around and vote for a budget that abandons the women, the victims-survivors that this country is failing every single day. This government needs to not just speak about its commitment to supporting women but act on it.

The Treasurer says that he will be making some tough decisions in the budget. Let me tell you what this government apparently considers a better use of your taxpayer dollars than protecting women fleeing domestic violence. In December, Australia sent $1.5 billion to the United States for AUKUS submarines that we'll never get. While I've been speaking, $30,000 of your money has gone straight to coal and gas companies. I'm not joking. There is $16.3 billion in subsidies a year, which is $30,000 a minute, being handed to companies that are killing our planet and getting rich by doing it. This is what you get from a PM who describes women like Grace Tame as 'difficult'. Perhaps all women centred policies get that label from this government. A spokesman for Minister Rowland from the Attorney-General's office told the Sydney MorningHerald:

The government will not pre-empt the outcomes of funding decisions made in the budget …

Well, if the minister cannot do anything about this, she should resign. (Time expired)