Palaszczuk’s male ministers signed up as White Ribbon Day advocates

The Palaszczuk Government’s six male ministers have become White Ribbon Day advocates and today released an online video encouraging all Queenslanders to do the same.

Treasurer and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Curtis Pitt joined his male Cabinet colleagues in urging Queenslanders not to just observe White Ribbon Day, but actually sign up as advocates.

“We want all men to sign up and become agents for change,” Mr Pitt said.

"Between 80 and 100 Australian women die at the hands of their male partners every year.

"In the last financial year alone Queensland police were called out to an average of 200 domestic violence-related incidents every day.”

“It’s time to say enough is enough.” 

Health Minister Cameron Dick urged men right around Queensland get online and take the White Ribbon Day oath to stand up, speak out and act to prevent men’s violence against women.

“White Ribbon is Australia’s only male-led campaign to stop men’s violence against women and recognises the positive role men can play in preventing violence against women,” Mr Dick said.

“But we will have to be vigilant in our continued efforts to break the silence on domestic violence across our state and Australia.”

Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham said that between 2006 and 2012 the number of deaths linked to domestic violence accounted for 44 per cent of Queensland’s homicide rate. 

“That’s completely unacceptable and it has to end now,” Dr Lynham said.

“This is an important day for us all to look at the issue of men’s violence against women across Queensland in our communities, homes and workplaces, and is our chance to stand up and speak out against it.”

Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey called on all Queensland men to sign up as White Ribbon Day advocates and embrace their role as community leaders.

“By modelling respectful behaviours, whether you are at home or at work, or out and about in your neighbourhoods and communities, you can have a real impact on our young people,” Mr Bailey said.

“Domestic and family violence must be addressed by the community as a whole, which is why we partner for change with organisations such as White Ribbon.”

Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne said the Palaszczuk Government was committed to ending violence against women.

“Queenslanders need to come together to create communities where violence against women, domestic and family violence are not tolerated in any form,” Mr Byrne said.

“All women should feel safe and free from any form of violence.”

Environment Minister Steven Miles said the Palaszczuk Government has committed to implementing all 140 recommendations of the Not Now, Not Ever taskforce report into family and domestic violence.

“We’ve acted swiftly since taking government, introducing new domestic violence laws including tougher penalties for breaches of domestic violence orders,” Dr Miles said.

“If you’re a witness to domestic violence or suspect it’s happening stand far enough away to be safe but close enough for the violent person to see you and be aware that they are being watched and verbally intervene.”

For more information on White Ribbon Day 2015 visit: http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/

The video can be viewed here.

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