Page 2076 - Week 06 - Thursday, 8 June 2017
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
beginning in coming weeks. The Domestic Violence Crisis Service has set up a new partnership with Swinburne University to work with training around perpetrators which runs for five or 15 days. The Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Association of the ACT, ATODA, held a symposium this year about alcohol and drug use, and domestic and family violence.
This month, a new privately funded microfinance facility will be launched that aims to close the gap for the missing middle experiencing domestic and family violence with a one-off, no interest loan to provide financial stability in a time of need. Domestic violence training is being developed for both financial institutions and the insurance sector and will be trialled in the ACT, starting with Beyond Bank. In November last year, we held our 16 days of global activism against gender-based violence, a campaign which garnered support from people and organisations all across the ACT, people such as Alan Tongue, 2017 ACT Australian of the Year, who continues to do great things in this space.
Working together and coordination are the key, and can ensure that we put the needs of victims and survivors at the centre of everything that we do. Madam Speaker, the ACT government again reconfirms its unwavering commitment to continuing work towards eliminating family violence from our whole community.
I present the following paper:
Safer Families—Annual Statement 2017—Ministerial statement, 8 June 2017.
I move:
That the Assembly take note of the paper.
MRS KIKKERT (Ginninderra) (10.20): I thank the minister for her statement regarding keeping families safe. This is an important topic, and it is of utmost importance to those who find themselves victims of personal and family violence.
A constituent in my electorate contacted me on Monday this week. She has been repeatedly assaulted by a former partner, who, thankfully, is no longer a threat to her or her children. But now friends of the former partner have been visiting their residence and threatening further violence. Because she is a social housing tenant, at the end of last year she requested a relocation from Housing ACT. Her application was rejected in January.
Since that time, the threats against her and her children have continued and worsened. Her home has been broken into, and a friend of her former partner has at least once attempted to take her son. These incidents have all been reported to ACT Policing and CYPS. This woman lives in perpetual panic and anxiety. Her primary school aged son has been diagnosed with depression and suicidal tendencies.
My office contacted both Housing ACT and the minister’s office to ask for help, as we saw and acknowledged this issue as a matter of urgency. I was instructed to send a
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video