Three prominent politicians from across party lines have joined together to call for a renewed focus on the “epidemic” of men’s violence against women in Australia.
Senator Larissa Waters, Bridget Archer and Alicia Payne have issued the call as men’s violence has killed five women in just 10 days.
The politicians are the co-convenors of the cross-party federal Parliamentary Friends of Ending Violence Against Women group. They say governments at all levels must prioritise the issue of gendered violence with funding and leadership, while Australians must drive cultural change.
“Counting Dead Women Australia has confirmed seven women – Katherine Safranko, Heather Dean, Krystal Marshall, Thi Thuy Huong Nguyen, Lilie James, Analyn ‘Logee’ Osias and Alice McShera – were killed by violence in October, bringing the total to 43 for 2023,” Waters, Archer and Payne said in a statement.
“We must tackle the root causes of violence against women, and to transform harmful social norms, with well-funded, expert-led respectful relationships education in schools, sporting associations, workplaces and across all aspects of society.
“We need funding for the frontline services that provide emergency housing, wrap around support, legal advice, counselling and healing, and long term affordable housing.”
Waters, Archer and Payne also noted that First Nations women are 8 times more likely to be murdered as a result of violence and that domestic violence occurs in every suburb and community right across the country.
“We also know this is an issue that crosses party lines and work across governments has started,” the statement said.
“We have seen the power of multipartisan commitments to ending this violence through the adoption of the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children and funding to deliver the strategy, changes to workplace regulation including a positive duty to prevent sexual harassment and support for Respectful Relationships Education in schools. We have also seen efforts to address perpetrator behaviour through a Healthy Masculinities project and Stop It At the Start campaigns.
“Governments at all levels must continue to prioritise this issue with funding and leadership, and each of us must drive the cultural change we need to end the epidemic of violence against women in our communities.”
If you are concerned about your behaviour, or about someone using violence, call Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
If you or someone you know is in need of help due to sexual assault or family and domestic violence contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732
In an emergency call 000.