Page 2292 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 5 August 2015
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Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to talk about the upcoming launch of the second implementation plan for the ACT prevention of violence against women and children strategy 2011-17. In August 2011 the then Minister for Women and the Attorney-General co-signed the ACT strategy. The second implementation plan, which the Attorney-General and I will officially launch on 17 August 2015, articulates the ACT government’s ongoing commitment to address domestic and family violence, including sexual assault. The second implementation plan also aligns with the second action plan under the national plan to reduce violence against women and their children 2010-22.
The second implementation plan sets out clear actions to improve programs, services and systems that support families experiencing or at risk of domestic or family violence, including sexual assault. It also recognises that this type of violence affects people’s ability to participate actively in their communities. Accordingly, the actions outlined in the second implementation plan support our government’s focus on social inclusion and equality.
The ACT government recognises that this issue affects our whole community and requires a whole-of-community response. Accordingly, the ACT government will be working collaboratively with the community sector and service providers over the next two years to progress the key actions in the second implementation plan and to ensure that we are all working towards a culture that is safe, respectful and just for all.
I think all proposals are worth consideration in how we tackle domestic violence, but as a government we have a responsibility to look at them in the context of their system and the people they are developed to support. I would like to again thank Mr Hanson for the opportunity to talk about the way the government is working to support everyone who is affected by violence in our community.
MR HANSON (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (10.45): I thank members for their contributions and for the spirit in which members have brought this forward. But when it comes to the amendments from Mr Corbell that are before us, in essence they say, “We’re not going to act; we’re going to consider.” It seems that everybody I have spoken to thinks that this is the way to go. Mr Rattenbury just said that he broadly thinks this is the way to go; everybody thinks that is the case, particularly those on the front line.
As I said in my speech previously, this does not mean that this just gets done ad hoc. It does need to be done correctly. It does need to be done in a way that adopts best practice and learnings from other jurisdictions. I have made it very clear that I am not trying today to dictate what the model would be, what the resourcing would be or what the specific arrangements in the court would be. That is a further body of work that needs to be done by the government and the court in adopting that, and I think everybody would agree with that.
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