Page 4049 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 26 November 2014
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Thank you, Mrs Jones, for bringing this motion forward today. I give it my full support, with the addition of Mr Corbell’s amendment, which I think will reinforce the intent of Mrs Jones’s motion.
MS BERRY (Ginninderra) (11.38): I welcome the opportunity to speak about this very important issue today in the Legislative Assembly, particularly following White Ribbon Day yesterday. I want to talk about some types of domestic violence or abuse that have not been referred to in this motion. I did not get around to moving an amendment, but I will talk about them now. I think they are forms of abuse that are sometimes invisible in our community and in our families but nonetheless are just as devastating as physical assaults and abuse.
These are the emotional kinds of abuse where a victim is blamed for all the problems in a relationship, where they are constantly compared to others, affecting their self-esteem and their self-worth, there is sporadic sulking and a withdrawal of interest and engagement. For example, there are weeks of silence from the partner, social abuse where victims are isolated from family and friends through techniques such as ongoing rudeness to family and friends, moving to locations where the victim knows nobody and physically preventing the victim from going out to meet people and, in effect, imprisoning that person.
There is spiritual abuse, denying access to ceremonies, land or family, preventing religious observance and forcing victims to do things against their beliefs, denigration of cultural background or using religious teachings or cultural tradition as a reason for violence and economic abuse. There is complete control of all the money, no access to bank accounts, providing only an inadequate allowance, using any wages earned by the victim for household expenses.
It is important that we remember that domestic and family violence and abuse come in many forms. Sometimes these types of abuse are not seen as clearly by our community, and they are things that we need to be aware of and bring attention to when we can.
I am happy that the ACT government have been doing some work on this, not just as a government but as an employer. The enterprise agreement with their employees provides for 10 days domestic violence leave so that people who do need to get support can have the leave available for them to be able to do that. The ACTU also has a claim with Fair Work Australia for domestic violence leave to be available for all employees. Everybody in our community, including employers, needs to do the right thing by people who have been a victim of domestic violence or abuse and ensure that they can get support when they need it without fearing for their jobs or fearing being unable to afford to take the time off to be able to get support.
I met a woman last year who was a victim of emotional, social and economic abuse. Thankfully we were able to give her a hand up and Mr Rattenbury’s office assisted with providing this person with public housing. She was also supported by the Domestic Violence Crisis Service. I can say now that she is certainly on her way to a better future for herself and her child. She was amazing and brave to come forward
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