Parliamentarians Unite to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children

Federal Parliamentarians from all sides of politics today joined with representatives from the ACT Government and the community to show their commitment to reducing violence against women and their children.

The Minister for Social Services, Kevin Andrews MP and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, continue to progress the Second Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022.

The National Plan is a 12-year strategy which brings together Commonwealth, State and Territory Government efforts, civil society, the business sector and the Australian community more broadly to make a sustained reduction in the levels of violence against women and their children.

Mr Andrews said with the implementation of the Second Action Plan underway, it is an important time for us to gather and reflect on an issue so critical to Australian society.

“The shocking statistics that one in three Australian women experience physical violence and one in five experience sexual assault from the age of 15 are completely unacceptable and we must do all that we can to reduce them.”

Minister Cash spoke of the responsibility of every citizen to take a stand against violence.

“As elected representatives, it is the obligation of every Member of Parliament and Senator to take the message home to their communities that violence against women and children is wrong and that it will not be tolerated in any street, suburb, electorate or city in Australia.”

Mr Andrews and Minister Cash were also joined by the Chair of the Foundation to Prevent Violence against Women and their Children (the Foundation) and Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls, Natasha Stott Despoja.

Minister Cash noted Ms Stott Despoja’s strong advocacy for addressing domestic violence in Australia, noting that “the Foundation will ensure greater community engagement and awareness raising to ultimately help prevent violence against women and their children.

“With the support of the Foundation and those working tirelessly across civil society, together with the efforts of the federal and state and territory governments, I am positive that Australia will start to see real, positive change in Australia’s response to this critical issue,” Minister Cash said.

For more information on the National Plan visit www.dss.gov.au/nationalplan.