Media Release by Senator the Hon Anne Ruston

National Summit key step towards ending violence against women

Joint Media Release with:

  • Senator the Hon Marise Payne
    Minister for Foreign Affairs 
    Minister for Women

The Morrison Government is hosting the National Summit on Women’s Safety on 6 and 7 September which is the culmination of extensive consultations to develop the next National Plan to end violence against women and children.

The Summit will include keynote addresses, panel discussions and a series of roundtables focused on key issues affecting women’s safety including economic security and financial independence, perpetrator interventions, and responding to sexual violence.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne said the Summit was an opportunity for a diverse range of people with lived experience, advocates, services providers, academics and other stakeholders to come together to inform the next National Plan.

“The Summit is an important step towards a future free from family and domestic violence and sexual assault in Australia,” Minister Payne said.

“I encourage every Australian to take part in this important national conversation, so together we can create change.”

Minister for Women’s Safety Anne Ruston said the key themes, issues and recommendations discussed by Summit delegates would be captured in a Summit Statement which would be released at the end of the two days.

“The Summit will further elevate the important national discussion we are having about women’s safety and ensure that we bring all people along with us as we develop the next National Plan,” Minister Ruston said. 

“We are pleased to have Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Age Discrimination Commissioner Dr Kay Patterson, Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant and Our Watch ambassador Arman Abrahimzadeh among others joining us as speakers.”

All key panel discussions and presentations will be live streamed on 6 and 7 September via womenssafetysummit.com.au. Written submissions and feedback on the topics discussed at the Summit can be provided at engage.dss.gov.au/national-summit-on-womens-safety until 15 September 2021.