CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS
Mr CALDWELL (Fadden—Opposition Chief Whip) (10:10): I rise today with a heavy heart, because the scourge of domestic and family violence is no longer just a headline in the media for our local community. This week it has been happening in our own backyard. In Biggera Waters, 23-year-old Mallorie Jane Roberts, a young mum with a little son, was allegedly shot and killed in her own home.
Police have charged her partner with domestic violence murder and a weapons offence, and have alleged a homemade, unregistered firearm was used. Mallorie was the 34th Australian woman to fall victim and be killed as a result of domestic violence this year, but she was more than just a number. Someone like Mallorie will be remembered by those who loved her as having a beautiful heart and a kind spirit.
She was a daughter, a mother, a sister and a friend. And now a child will grow up without his mum. I also want to acknowledge the courage of neighbour Sharon Burgess, who did what every decent Australian hopes they would.
She called triple zero and desperately tried to save Mallorie's life until paramedics arrived. Sadly, Mallory could not be saved. Then, in Hope Island just a couple of nights ago, another horror unfolded.
A 38-year-old man locked himself in a room in the home of his former partner and set the house on fire, killing himself and seriously injuring other occupants. These are no longer distant tragedies. Biggera Waters and Hope Island are suburbs in our community—streets our families know and suburbs where we live.
To the families grieving this week, our community grieves with you. To anyone living in fear, please know this: you are not alone. You deserve help, safety and support.
To all of us in this place: we must be clear; domestic and family violence must be called out wherever it occurs. Backed by our brave police, frontline services, neighbours, families and a community that refuses to look away, we must work together to end domestic and family violence. Twice this week the Prime Minister was asked if he could guarantee house prices won't tank, but he refused to answer.
The hapless Minister for Housing was asked the same question all week in question time, and she refused to answer too. Australians really deserve to know what it is that they're hiding. There's a big difference between making housing more affordable and crashing the value of homes of everyday Australians who have worked their whole lives to own that bit of Australia.
The housing minister has talked about a 10 to 20 per cent 'correction', and that should concern every Australian with a mortgage. That's not a housing plan; that's an admission that this government has lost control. Sadly, the great Australian dream has turned into a nightmare under this Labor government.
We know that the minister was hopeless in Home Affairs, and now she's hopeless with homes.