STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms KARA COOK (Bonner) (13:56): I rise today with a heavy heart—four women killed in 45 days in my home state of Queensland. Across our country, 45 Australian women have been killed by violence this year. As a former domestic violence lawyer, I know the courage it takes to leave—and when a woman does, it is the most dangerous time, and our systems must support her.

The Albanese Labor government has made ending violence against women and children a national priority. We have invested more than $4.4 billion under our national plan. We have made the leaving violence payment permanent, delivered 500 additional frontline workers, strengthened prevention and invested in legal assistance, specialist police training and perpetrator programs.

But four women killed in Queensland in 45 days tells us something very clearly: there is so much more work to do. We must prevent violence before it starts. We must intervene earlier.

We must hold perpetrators to account. And we must ensure that, when a woman reaches out for help, she is heard and she is safe. Our goal is ambitious, but it must be to end violence against women and children in one generation.

Women deserve to be safe everywhere, always, and this government is working every single day to make that a reality.