Page 934 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 30 March 1993
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It is also stated that the problem is worsening. The devastating effect of unemployment and the spiral of frustration and anger surely impact on the harmony of domestic life. It would therefore be reasonable to assume that one of the basic and critical factors that need to be addressed is our unacceptably high unemployment levels. We must look not only at academic solutions but also at the reality. To achieve genuine progress and attack the causes of domestic violence, we must target families where either one or both partners are unemployed. I sincerely hope that any strategy that is developed will address this critical factor.
So far I have mentioned domestic violence against women, which is by far the largest component of all violence against women. However, there is one point that should be added to the six points highlighted in section one of the national strategy report, and that is choice. Women should have the right to real choice in matters affecting their lives. Without choice, women are at the mercy of others and do not have the power and independence to direct their own destiny. This independence will be achieved only by women having access to participation in employment, education and training. Women must have access to adequate child-care and to superannuation opportunities, which will give them true independence and not force them to stay in relationships which are unacceptable or violent. Women must have improved health services and access to affordable housing. But the most important factor is the creation of a healthy economic climate. These things currently are not being focused upon adequately.
May I state again: It is all very well to spend $3m of taxpayers' money on a national strategy on violence against women, but the mere writing of another report does not save one woman from abuse. We must turn reports into action at a grassroots level. We must not confuse forming another committee, another advisory body, or the like, with actually solving any of the problems associated with domestic violence. Talk must be put into action and the first step is to get unemployed Canberrans and other Australians back to work.
MR STEVENSON (8.35): Recently in the Assembly I spoke of a number of factors that need to be addressed to reduce violence against women. They include problems caused by alcohol, the economic and other factors that work against the family unit, the injustices caused by certain actions of the Family Court, and pornography. There is no doubt that the increasing levels of rape, child abuse and violence will not be addressed unless we look directly at the causes of these increasing factors. There is no single cause that has more effect on violence against women and on child abuse than pornography in its incitement of some males to commit violence.
It was a study by Check and Sommers that established effectively that pornography plays a powerful role in causing physical and sexual violence against women. Check and his associate, Evelyn Sommers, studied a group of 44 women who had suffered severe battering from their partners. They compared them with a group of women who had not been battered. Very clear differences emerged between the two groups. The first question asked was:
As far as you know, how often does your partner read or view Playboy, Penthouse, Hustler, or other magazines of this type?
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