Senate debates Questions without Notice

Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence


Larissa Waters

Larissa Waters Queensland, Australian Greens

2:17 pm

My question is to the Minister for Women, Senator Gallagher. There were 39,758 victims of sexual assault in Australia last year. Today's annual report to parliament by the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner highlights the system failures that stop women coming forward. The government has had the Law Reform Commission recommendations to improve justice system responses like trauma-informed training, access to independent lawyers and protecting counselling records. You've had them for 18 months. This is an urgent issue, and women can't wait any longer. When is the government going to act on these crucial recommendations?