LINDA BURNEY MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FAMILIES AND SOCIAL SERVICES
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS
MEMBER FOR BARTON

SENATOR JENNY MCALLISTER  
SHADOW CABINET SECRETARY 
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE LABOR LEADER IN THE SENATE  
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMMUNITIES AND THE PREVENTION OF FAMILY VIOLENCE  
SENATOR FOR NEW SOUTH WALES

GOVERNMENT RUSHES CONSULTATION ON DRAFT NATIONAL PLAN TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Labor thanks domestic and sexual violence victim-survivors, frontline workers, academics, and advocates for their role in informing the draft National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 that was released last night. Their work in advising and educating the Morrison-Joyce Government about the drivers and impact of violence has been vital. 

The government must now honour victim-survivors’ efforts and insights by ensuring the plan is properly resourced and implemented.

The real test for this government will be whether they are willing to make concrete commitments and do the hard work that’s required to deliver them. 

The government is not off to a great start. It is unfortunate that victim-survivors, frontline workers and advocates have been given just two weeks in January to comment on the draft plan. This plan was due months ago. The community should not have to pay for this Prime Minister’s failure to deliver.

The government has a poor track record when it comes to keeping its promises to Australian women. In just the last 12 months, the Morrison-Joyce government has:

• • Failed to properly implement the Respect@Work report’s recommendations;
• • Botched the delivery of the Escaping Violence Program;
• • Voted against paid family and domestic violence leave for victim-survivors;
• • Ignored calls to invest in safe, affordable and appropriate longer-term accommodation for women and children fleeing violence;
• • Not delivered the national partnership agreement money promised in the budget.

This comes after eight years of neglect and disinterest in women’s safety.

The Prime Minister has a long was to go to fix his empathy gap and rebuild trust with Australian women.  Families cannot afford any more broken promises.

An Albanese Labor Government will make tackling domestic, family and sexual violence a national priority. We will deal with this important issue with creativity, ambition and urgency. 

FRIDAY, 14 JANUARY 2022