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 

SHARON CLAYDON MP
MEMBER FOR NEWCASTLE
DEPUTY CHAIR, STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL POLICY AND LEGAL AFFAIRS
 

LIBERAL LED INQUIRY ON DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE SETS TEST FOR NEW WOMEN’S TASKFORCE
 

The Morrison Government has no more excuses for its failure to act on family, domestic and sexual violence.

Having announced its new women’s taskforce in Cabinet this week, the Government must demonstrate that it’s about more than just announcements and respond to the 88 recommendations of the report of the House of Representatives Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee inquiry tabled today.

This report reflects bipartisan concern that the Morrison Government’s approach to family, domestic and sexual violence over the past seven years has been inadequate, and that there is much to be done as a result.

The evidence taken by this inquiry was unequivocal – the scale of the problem is greater than either the resources or resolve that the Australian Government has applied to date.

In response, the majority of this committee has endorsed substantial recommendations that both call on the Morrison Government to face up to the challenge, and accept its capacity and obligation to do more.

Many of the recommendations repeat those of previous committees in previous reports. They could have been implemented by the Morrison Government years ago. The failure to do so has had very real consequences.

The Government does not need to wait for the next National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children to take the urgent action required on family, domestic and sexual violence. 

How quickly it responds to this report, and how willing it is to enact its recommendations, are the first tests for the new Cabinet taskforce.
 
THURSDAY, 1 APRIL 2021