STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms BRISKEY (Maribyrnong) (13:40): I'd like to contribute to raise your voice this week. My 90 second statement belong to Amy from my electorate who is 19. These are her words: The biggest issue shaping my future is domestic and family violence, including emotional abuse, coercive control and financial abuse.

What I think about this issue, I think about my mum and me. I think about the emotional suffering, intimidation and feeling of powerlessness that comes from being controlled by someone who should have been there to make us feel safe. Family violence is not always physical.

Sometimes it happens through threats, financial control and actions that make a person feel trapped and unable to make choices for themselves. One of the hardest parts is feeling like protection often comes too late. When someone is experiencing ongoing abuse, the systems around them feel overwhelming and difficult to navigate.

People can often feel powerless while waiting for something worse to happen before meaningful action is taken. I want Parliament to improve support services for people experiencing domestic and family violence. This means recognising all forms of abuse, improving early intervention, strengthening advocacy and ensuring people have practical support when they need it.

A safer Australia is one where no one feels trapped by fear, financial Independence or uncertainty. It is a future where people are believed, supported, protected before reaching breaking point. These are powerful reflections from Amy, and I want to acknowledge her and congratulate her on sharing her story with the parliament.