Page 618 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 30 March 2021
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review’s recommendations complement or reflect current and ongoing work by the government in response to family violence.
I reiterate that despite some time passing between receipt of the first and final versions of the review report, the government has been working, and continues to work, to improve the experiences of victims of domestic and family violence in the territory.
Family violence is a complex and challenging area of law, policy and service delivery. As the review’s authors highlight in their findings, views on how best to respond to these challenges differ. The government is committed to continuing to work closely with those in the family violence and justice sectors, and those with lived experience of violence.
Many of the issues identified by the review will require detailed conversations in a range of forums, and meaningful progress will take time and sustained effort. I am pleased to say that the government has both the will and the determination to have these conversations and to ensure that our framework for dealing with family violence in our community is the best that it can be.
The government is happy to table a response to the review this year. This is unusual, as this was a report commissioned by government to itself. However, there is evidently strong community and parliamentary interest, so the government is happy to offer open and honest updates on where we are at with those recommendations, on the public record. I have proposed in my amendments that the response will be provided in the August-September sitting. Ms Lee has proposed June. I have looked at the calendar and, as it will be a government response, it will need to go through cross-agency coordination and through cabinet. I think that it will take longer to get a good version than by June.
It is a little later than Ms Lee’s motion has sought, but I think that is necessary to ensure that there is a well-considered and useful response for the Assembly. As I say, though, things are not standing still, and by the time that report comes in that sitting period, members will see that a range of important steps have been taken in response to the report.
My amendments omit the condemnation of government contained in the motion. I expect that that is part of the process. Let us focus on the issues at hand here. Ms Lee is free to make the comments that she wishes to make.
I thank Ms Lee for the opportunity to speak about this important topic, and reiterate the government’s commitment to taking a considered, evidence-based approach to the important and complex issues arising from the review. I am pleased to support the bulk of Ms Lee’s motion, but I now move the amendments that have been circulated in my name:
(1) Omit (4); and
(2) omit “,by the last sitting day in June 2021”, substitute with “, during the August-September 2021 sitting period”.
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