Rudd Government Launches New Respectful Relationships Campaign

Minister for the Status of Women, Tanya Plibersek today joined recording artists Lisa Mitchell, Maya Jupiter, Pez and Tenielle Muslin, to launch a $17 million Australian Government social marketing campaign promoting respectful relationships among Australia’s youth.

Ms Plibersek was in Sydney’s Darling Harbour to launch The Line campaign ahead of the Australia Performing Right Association (APRA) Awards.

The Line is a four year campaign targeting youth and their influences in an effort to reduce the incidence of violence in Australia and will pay particular attention to social and online media.

The campaign is estimated to reach 2.5 million Australians – including nearly one million teenagers – in its first ten days of operation.

‘The Line will invite young people to engage with each other and with experts to promote and encourage positive behaviours in relationships, as well as provoking discussion on some of the issues around relationship ‘grey areas’ where drawing the line isn’t quite as easy,’ Ms Plibersek said.

‘It is about giving young people lifelong skills to recognise, develop and maintain relationships.’

As part of the campaign launch, artists Maya Jupiter, Lisa Mitchell, Pez, Tenielle released a joint artist communiqué which reads:

‘We are proud to be a part of the Australian Government’s new campaign, The Line.

When it comes to relationships, you have to have respect. It’s about knowing where to draw the line, making that clear difference between what’s ok and what’s not. It’s about respecting yourself and others. Wherever you are. Whatever you’re doing. Whoever you’re with. That’s why we say yes to The Line’.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in three Australian women will report being a victim of physical violence and almost one in five will report being a victim of sexual violence in their lifetime.  

Approximately 350,000 women in Australia will experience physical violence and 125,000 women will experience sexual violence each year.

Research from KPMG commissioned by the Australian Government found that violence against women will cost the Australian economy around $13.6 billion this financial year, rising to $15.6 billion in 2021/22 if more action isn’t taken.

The Rudd Government is providing national leadership in reducing violence through the development of a National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women, which will be released later this year.

For more information, please visit theline website