Media Releases

Today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that National Cabinet has re-affirmed its commitment to ending gender-based violence and committed to accelerate efforts to keep women and girls safe. 

This is a weak and unacceptable outcome. The measures agreed to are piecemeal and will make no immediate, material difference to women and children experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence.

I asked National Cabinet to back five practical steps: give the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission real powers to hold governments to account; launch a national campaign to tackle misogyny and teach respectful relationships; implement every recommendation of the Rapid Review; establish a national domestic violence offender register; and establish a Royal Commission to expose the systemic failures that are costing lives.

My call for a national education campaign has been underscored by the devastating news today of the death of a 16-year-old Northern Beaches girl. My thoughts are with her family, friends and community at this incredibly difficult time.

Police are investigating the circumstances of the girl's death and no charges have been laid. We must allow the legal process to take place.

Regardless of the circumstances of this particular case, the Albanese government itself has confirmed that rates of sexual violence, particularly amongst young people, are rising. In Parliament on 13 August, Minister Tanya Plibersek said “sexual strangulation is becoming commonplace because children are seeing violent and degrading pornography before they've had their first kiss. It's where they're getting their sex education from.”

The Albanese government must urgently roll out a national campaign ensuring young people receive ongoing sexual-health and relationship education.

Women and children need real action and accountability to keep them safe. I will keep pushing for it.