Page 463 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 23 March 2022
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Wednesday, 23 March 2022
MADAM SPEAKER (Ms Burch) (10.00): Members:
Dhawura nguna, dhawura Ngunnawal.
Yanggu ngalawiri, dhunimanyin Ngunnawalwari dhawurawari.
Nginggada Dindi dhawura Ngunnaawalbun yindjumaralidjinyin.
The words I have just spoken are in the language of the traditional custodians and translate to:
This is Ngunnawal Country.
Today we are gathering on Ngunnawal Country.
We always pay respect to Elders, female and male, and Ngunnawal Country.
Members, I ask you to stand in silence and pray or reflect on our responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory.
Domestic and family violence—Family Violence Safety Action Pilot
Ministerial statement
MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Early Childhood Development, Minister for Education and Youth Affairs, Minister for Housing and Suburban Development, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Women) (10.01): Today I would like to talk about the importance of understanding, preventing and intervening in the behaviour of perpetrators of domestic and family violence, and a new approach that the ACT government is taking to meeting this challenge and critical need.
Around Australia and around the world, governments and communities continue to confront the urgent social issue of domestic and family violence. During the past two years, as restrictions have been in place to stop the spread of COVID-19, domestic and family violence has been a shadow pandemic. Domestic and family violence rates, serious physical threats, assaults and coercive and controlling behaviours have increased. The service sector has reported that COVID-19 restrictions have been used as an excuse to control and confine women. Sadly, many women have experienced domestic and family violence for the first time over the past two years.
Canberra’s domestic and family violence services have risen to the challenges presented by COVID-19, and I thank them for their tireless work supporting victim survivors. We cannot forget that it is those who perpetrate domestic and family violence who are responsible for that violence. Perpetrators of domestic and family violence must be held accountable, and our service system has a critical role to play in making sure this happens.
Evidence shows that the best system response to domestic and family violence is integrated, with services working together, and not only provides supports to victim survivors but also actively monitors and engages with perpetrators. Evidence also
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