September 25, 2015
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says he is confident a new domestic violence funding package announced by the Prime Minister will help Gippsland women.
The Prime Minister has announced a $100 million Women’s Safety Package to deliver immediate and practical measures to keep women and their children safer.
Mr Chester said the Australian Government was taking a stand on domestic violence.
“We are acting today because the rates of family violence on a national scale and we need to be doing more to keep women and their children safe,” Mr Chester said.
“Gippsland has some of the worst rates of domestic violence in Victoria. This is a disturbing trend that needs to be stopped.
“So far this year, more than 60 women have been killed in domestic violence incidents across Australia. One in every six women in this country has experienced violence at the hands of a man.
“This situation is completely unacceptable and that is why governments across Australia have made addressing this issue a national priority.
“This is not a problem just for governments and police; it is a problem for the whole community and men need to stand up and say ‘enough is enough’.
“It is never OK to raise your hand or intimidate women at home, in the workplace or in the community.”
This package will deliver immediate measures to support women and their children and will include $21 million for specific measures to help Indigenous women and communities.
“We will work with states and territories to trial new technologies to keep women safe, to train more frontline staff to recognise and respond appropriately to women experiencing violence and to provide better resources to help parents, teachers and students,” Mr Chester said.
The Women’s Safety Package responds to the preliminary advice of Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Advisory Panel on Reducing Violence against Women and their Children – chaired by Ken Lay and deputy chaired by Rosie Batty and Heather Nancarrow – which was provided to COAG at its special meeting on 23 July 2015.
CAPTION: Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says if you know someone impacted by sexual assault or family violence to call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).
