Gallery
Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, Marion Scrymgour - Labor for Lingiari, and I met with the incredible local women who run Galiwin'ku Women's Space Inc. They are clever, thoughtful and strong leaders in their community. I talked with them about Labor’s commitment to invest in crisis accommodation and the family violence workforce in the Northern Territory. Services like this and the women and children they support deserve our support.
Such an honour to visit Galiwin'ku (Elcho Island) with Senator Malarndirri McCarthy and Marion Scrymgour - Labor for Lingiari. We spent the morning dancing, singing and learning to count with educators, mothers and children at the local Families and First Teachers centre. This service is so important to mums and kids and is supported by dedicated educators who want to give these children the best start to school and life. I know my colleagues Malandirri and Marion will continue to be passionate advocates for centres and programs like this in the Territory.
Labor met with domestic and family violence organisations in Darwin to discuss Labor’s plan to tackle domestic and family violence. We know that community organisations are struggling to keep up with the growing demand for services. Here in the Northern Territory, Labor will provide $3.39 million for crisis accommodation and funding for 17 specialist workers to help support people experiencing family and domestic violence - with Senator Malarndirri McCarthy - Northern Territory and Luke Gosling MP.
Women and children who take the first step towards a life free from violence deserve our help. Labor will invest to ensure they have a safe place to go, and support on their journey. I was pleased to join Alicia Payne MP Katy Gallagher Andrew Leigh MP and David Smith MP to discuss Labor’s plans with YWCA Canberra. Read more in the Canberra Times.
Picture: Elesa Kurtz, Canberra Times
I met with Elly Desmarchelier - a fierce advocate for protecting the NDIS. The Morrison Government has administered cuts to funding over the past nine years, undermining the NDIS and prioritising cost-saving over dignity. Labor believes that no one should be left behind. We established the NDIS, and we’re determined to protect it.
Shane Hamilton, Labor for Dawson and I visited the Mackay Women's Centre. Executive Director Linda-Ann Northey spoke with us about the harrowing stories of local women struggling to find accommodation for themselves after fleeing violent relationships. We heard of women being forced to live in cars and box trailers with their young children. Yet for domestic and family violence services, stories like these are all too common.
That’s why Labor is allocating $100 million to refurbishing, revitalising and extending crisis accommodation in Australia. Here is Central Queensland that will mean an additional $2 million to expand crisis accommodation services. Labor is committed to national leadership on women’s safety and helping to make stories like these a thing of the past.
Rowan Holzberger - Labor for Forde Letitia Del Fabbro - Labor for Fadden Glen Palmer - Labor for Moncrieff and I spoke with Rosie O’Malley, CEO of the Gold Coast Domestic Violence Prevention Centre. Over the past two years, Rosie has seen significant increases in the demand on domestic and family violence services. As of February, the Centre is helping 125 new women a week, in addition to the 7,000 women they already work with each year. Domestic violence services in Queensland and across the country are being stretched to the limit, they are in critical need of support to meet the growing demand. If elected, a Labor government will approach this challenge with urgency, ambition and creativity.
Wonderful to be in Cairns with Elida Faith - Labor for Leichhardt to talk with local family and domestic violence services doing amazing work to support women and children fleeing violence in the local community.
We also discussed Labor’s commitment to provide $1 million for additional crisis accommodation and 7 additional community sector workers in Far North Queensland. You can watch our video message HERE.
The Jannawi Family Centre offers support to children who experience violence at home. Their staff speak a range of languages and work hard to support families right across the community.
Tony Bourke MP, Zhi Soon Labor's candidate for Banks and I shared Labor’s commitment to provide dedicated funding to organisations that support Australians from culturally diverse backgrounds to employ specialist domestic and family violence workers. We know the importance of culturally appropriate frontline services for victim-survivors from culturally diverse communities.
