QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Women, Minister for Government Services and Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (14:18): I thank Senator Waters for the question and for her advocacy in the area of women's safety over a long period of time. This is something that I and all the government led by Minister Plibersek along with Assistant Minister Kearney and Assistant Minister White in the women's team with the Attorney-General, which really goes to the issues that Senator Waters raises—this is a whole-of-government effort in terms of not only responding to the current prevalence of violence, including sexual violence, across the Australian community, but also looking forward about what needs to happen.

We have responded in a number of ways. I don't have the breakdown of all of the issues that have been dealt with in the Attorney's portfolio, but I will see if I can get that to add to my answer. But I know that the work that Minister Rowland has been doing, including through the Standing Council of Attorneys-General, has been leading this work for the government and implementing a number of recommendations from various reports.

We are also, at the moment, as Senator Waters would know, consulting on the second action plan for the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children, for which there have been extensive consultations across the sector about what further measures need to be taken. But we have invested heavily in this area. There is more work to do.

The extent and prevalence of violence against women and children in the Australian community are horrific. We read about these stories every day—victims-survivors and those who don't survive. We have a whole-of-community responsibility to talk about this and to do whatever we can to end it.

The PRESIDENT: Senator Waters, first supplementary?