The Greens welcome passage of the Bill to give employees access to 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave. It is a long overdue reform that will save lives. 

But a lack of new funding in last night’s Budget means frontline response and prevention services will struggle to meet the expected increase in demand. 

Lines attributable to Senator Larissa Waters, Greens Leader in the Senate and spokesperson on Women

The Greens welcome the release of the new National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032, but without additional funding or meaningful targets the ambitious plan is just words. 

Lines attributable to Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson for Women, Senator Larissa Waters

“The Greens have been fighting hard for progress on a National Plan for decades alongside victim-survivors, activists and women’s organisations.

The Greens welcome the introduction of laws making 10 days paid domestic and family violence leave available to all employees, but have called on Labor to address other significant barriers for women and children escaping abusive relationships.

“The Greens have been calling for paid domestic and family violence leave for many years, echoing calls from the women’s safety sector and unions. We are pleased to see progress on this important issue,” says Greens Leader in the Senate and spokesperson on women, Senator Larissa Waters.   

The Greens welcome the comprehensive In One Generation report from the National Women’s Safety Alliance today, and are proud to support its 20 priority actions. The Greens are calling on all other parties to match their commitment to fully fund frontline services, eliminate violence against women and deliver economic security.

The Greens say the absence of meaningful commitments to addressing gender inequality and economic insecurity in the government’s draft Draft National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children was alarming, while the short consultation period and failure to publish the consultation report proved they had no commitment to genuine community engagement.

Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters said:

On International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women the Greens have called for the Morrison Government to commit serious funding to frontline services, prevention programs, and short and long term housing so that women are not forced to choose between violence and homelessness.
 

The Greens say the government’s Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission is an inadequate response to the women’s safety crisis that is more about politics than it is about serious action to protect women.

Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on democracy Senator Larissa Waters said:

The Greens say today’s tabling of the Final Report of Pauline Hanson’s toxic family law inquiry marks the welcome end of more than two years of political grandstanding that has traumatised survivors of family and domestic violence and provided a platform for hate and misinformation.

Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on democracy Senator Larissa Waters said:

“What a colossal waste of time and energy.

The Government’s attempt at winning back female support with its women’s economic statement today will fail for its lack of funding and lack of vision, Greens spokesperson for women, Senator Larissa Waters said.

“The women’s economic security statement by the Women’s Minister today contains only minor reforms and pittance of new funding - it equates to a mere four cents per week for adult Australian women. Four cents a week will not fix anything for Australian women.