ADJOURNMENT

Ms PRICE (Durack) (19:45): Last week was Men's Health Week, an important acknowledgement of the need to break the stigma that prevents men from seeking help when they need it. The week challenges the 'tough it out' culture, promoting early intervention, open conversations and stress management. This event is especially important to me as the representative for some of the most vulnerable men and boys in this country.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics suicides data, the suicide rate for males living in remote areas is more than double the rate of males living in major cities. Tragically, Western Australia's suicide rate is the highest standardised rate in the country. For regional, rural and remote WA, it was revealed last year by the WA Mental Health Commission that, between 2018 and 2023, suicide rates increased by 20 per cent whilst at the same time they fell by 17 per cent in Perth—some good news.

For families across Durack, these are not mere numbers and statistics. Each death by suicide is a loved family and community member. Poor mental health, of course, does not always lead to suicide.

It can also lead to other destructive behaviours. We've seen the rise of the likes of Andrew Tate on social media, brainwashing our young men into toxic masculinity. We need more encouragement by governments and society of positive masculinity.

Too often, the discussions we have about men and masculinity are negative. Too often, it is wrong to be masculine. As the federal member for Durack—I'm sure I can say this for everyone who's in this House today, including the Speaker—I constantly come across very fine examples of positive masculinity, whether they be men volunteering at the local fire brigade, helping out at the local footy club or the local surf club, working for a not-for-profit or big business, in local government or are a fellow politician.

Put plainly, they're just good blokes. Sadly, the other side of the coin is the rise in domestic violence and coercive control. The data shows we simply cannot look away.

In Western Australia, there were 11,908 offenders prosecuted for family and domestic violence related offences in 2024-25. This was an increase of 20 per cent from the previous year. These offenders now represent 28 per cent of all offenders in Western Australia.

Seventy-nine per cent of family and domestic violence offenders are male, and the male offender rate is almost four times higher than the female offender rate. These figures represent families under pressure. Women are living in fear, and children are growing up in unsafe environments and learning from poor examples and role models, including in our most remote communities where support can be really hard to access.

So the question has to be asked. What do we do about it? How do we support our men to be better men?

How do we help men to be the best version of themselves, especially with their mental health? I have often wondered whether a federal minister for men and boys was part of the solution. There are numerous ministers representing the humanitarian portfolios within the federal government, and rightly so.

These include but are not limited to women veterans, the homeless, immigrants, the elderly, the youth, welfare recipients and Indigenous Australians. We need to recognise the real challenges facing Australian males and ensure they have a dedicated voice and a dedicated seat within cabinet and government. The federal government has acknowledged men and their contributions to society with the appointment of a special envoy for men's health.

However, an envoy is not a minister and can be merely symbolic. I do want to acknowledge that the member for Hunter, who is the current envoy, has done important advocacy work in this role. However, the challenges faced by men and boys are greater than an advisory role.

Supporting men does not come at the expense of supporting women. Recognising the challenges of young men does not discredit the challenges faced by young women. If we're serious about reducing the rates of male suicide, domestic violence and coercive control while promoting positive masculinity, we must be equally serious about supporting Australian men and boys to thrive.

We need meaningful investment in programs teaching self-care, respect, accountability and healthy relationships. We have to invest in our men and our boys to be able to build safer and happier communities.