Media Releases

Warringah MP Zali Steggall has called on National Cabinet to agree to a new agenda to tackle domestic, family and sexual violence, warning that the scale of the crisis proves the current approach is failing women and children.

Steggall forced the issue of domestic violence onto the parliamentary agenda last week, moving to suspend standing orders so Parliament could immediately debate the escalating crisis. She also used Question Time to ask the Prime Minister what more the Government would do keep women and children safe following a series of deaths and high-profile sexual assault allegations.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded that domestic and family violence would be on the National Cabinet agenda this Wednesday.  Steggall, a former family law barrister, said the meeting must immediately deliver more resources, greater mobilisation and new levels of government and agency accountability.

“The Prime Minister says domestic violence will be a high priority at National Cabinet. Today, that priority must be translated into action. The safety of women and children depends on it,” she said.

Steggall’s motion last week stated that femicide, family and domestic violence and sexual violence were at crisis point in Australia and highlighted that Australian Femicide Watch had recorded 45 women and 19 children killed by violence this year.

Steggall is calling on National Cabinet to agree to five immediate areas of action:

1. Empower the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission

The commission must be granted the power to monitor government performance, compel information and data, track recommendations and ensure governments and agencies deliver promised services and funding.

2. An urgent national education campaign

A survey released  this week shows young men are more likely to hold hostile attitudes towards women than their grandfathers’ generation. This is an appalling trend.

National Cabinet must support an education campaign addressing misogyny, respectful relationships, consent and healthy masculinity through schools, universities and community organisations, including sports clubs.

3. Implement all Rapid Review recommendations

National Cabinet should agree to a clear timetable for implementing all recommendations of the Rapid Review of Prevention Approaches, conducted by the PM's own department. Responsibility must be allocated, funding identified, deadlines set and progress publicly reported.

4. A national domestic violence offender register

The register should bring together information across states and territories on people with histories of serious or repeated domestic and family violence.

Information should be available to police and shared with anyone wanting to know whether a current or former partner has a history of domestic or violent offending.

5. A Royal Commission into domestic violence

Only a Royal Commission has the power and visibility to deliver real, lasting change and accountability at the scale needed. It should examine systemic problems across policing, courts, child protection, health, housing and other institutions, as well as information-sharing and implementation failures. A Royal Commission must not delay or displace the actions outlined above.

“Today must be a turning point on domestic and family violence. This National Cabinet meeting is a crucial opportunity to reset Australia's response to this nationwide crisis,” Steggall said.

“The women and children who have been killed cannot be brought back. But their deaths must not be met with statements of regret alone. We need to see a genuine commitment to action - more resources, greater mobilisation and clear accountability to prevent further precious lives being lost.”