MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

Dr HAINES (Indi) (10:51): I rise to speak on the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission's yearly report to parliament. I acknowledge Commissioner Micaela Cronin and the 12 members of the Lived Experience Advisory Council for their important work in developing this report. People with lived and living experience must be meaningfully involved in this work.

Their insights strengthen our understanding of violence and help governments design policies and services that are safer and more effective. I also want to take a moment to remember those whose lives have, tragically, been taken by people who were supposed to love them. And I acknowledge the victims-survivors, who carry trauma that can last a lifetime.

Domestic, family and sexual violence remains one of the most serious issues facing Australia. In 2024-25, on average, one woman was killed every 11 days and one man every 26 days by an intimate partner. This violence occurs right across Australia, but some people face intersecting disadvantages that increase both their risk of violence and their barriers to seeking help.

In Victoria, the 26 local government areas with the highest rates of family violence are all regional and rural. Some are in my electorate of Indi, including one ranked in the top five. Hospitalisation rates for gender based violence are also higher in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage that are more remote and for First Nations people.

Family violence remains the leading cause of homelessness for women and children. Equally concerning is that reports of sexual violence are now at their highest level since reporting began 30 years ago. These figures are truly shocking, yet they still do not capture the full scale of gender based family and sexual violence, because we know there are significant barriers to reporting.

For someone who is experiencing violence in a regional community, services can be limited, and long distances can separate people from the support they need. Concerns about privacy can be acute. You may know the receptionist at the local GP clinic, the police officer taking your report or staff at the local health service.

Reaching out for help can be overwhelming, and these factors make it even harder. In my electorate, organisations like the Centre Against Violence, Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation, Women's Health Goulburn North East, VACCA, Upper Murray Family Care, and Gateway Health do vital work every day in this space. They provide specialist support, deliver prevention and education programs, undertake research and bring together other health, social and legal support services to support our region.

The report makes eight recommendations to meaningfully reduce gender based violence within a generation. This is an important goal of this government and one I deeply support. While all recommendations warrant careful consideration, I want to speak to two in particular: early intervention and improving the coordination of evidence.

The commissioner made clear that new investment must be targeted towards early intervention while continuing to invest in the services that support people leaving violent relationships. Addressing the drivers of violence at its source and reducing the risks is the way to end the cycle of crisis. Research from No to Violence estimates 3.6 per cent of government funding goes to early intervention compared with 55.9 per cent going to response after violence has occurred.

Crisis response must not be weakened. It remains vital to safety and recovery, but I welcome the recommendation to invest new funds in early intervention. The report also calls for stronger coordination of evidence, research and data.

In August, I joined the member for Wentworth and other crossbench colleagues in writing to the Prime Minister about this very issue, because Australia has no shortage of evidence about what works but, after a decade of inquiries, reports and evaluation, that knowledge remains fragmented. A national evidence collaboration would connect this data and enable governments to direct resources more effectively.

I really urge the government to get on with that recommendation. This report is a sobering account of the work still ahead but it also provides a practical path forward. The way to truly honour the lives lost, the survivors and to protect people in the future requires shared responsibility, sustained leadership and action at a huge scale and pace to address this crisis.

I'm willing to work with anyone in this parliament, and I urge the government to continue its leadership and respond swiftly to the commissioner's recommendations.