STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms BERRY (Whitlam) (16:32): Domestic and family violence remains one of the most serious challenges facing our community. Our government's National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children aims to end violence against women and children in one generation. It is the responsibility of all of us to stand up to people who think violence is the answer to their problems.

It is not. Violence is never the answer. I commend the efforts of everyone in my community who is working hard to end violence against women and children.

In my electorate of Whitlam, I want to be part of the solution, as do so many people in my community. I'm thinking about organisations like the Illawarra Trauma Recovery Centre, Pop In in the Southern Highlands, Healthier Illawarra Men, the Illawarra Women's Health Centre, the Illawarra Committee Against Domestic Violence, community Rotary organisations and so many others doing fantastic work in our community to promote respect for women and keeping children safe.

In Whitlam, we want our communities in the Southern Illawarra and the Southern Highlands to be completely free of violence against women and children. Whenever poor or violent attitudes towards women manifest, they must be immediately challenged. We cannot lose another woman or child to domestic or sexual violence.

Whenever this happens, it's an enormous and preventable tragedy. We must see the warning signs and act sooner, and this responsibility sits with all of us.