Joint statement on women's safety summit

The Women’s Safety Summit represents an opportunity for all governments and decision makers to listen to victim-survivors and their advocates. 
 
State and territory governments are committed to playing our part in working to address family, domestic and sexual violence.  
 
For years the Commonwealth’s contribution to national gendered violence efforts has fallen short of what is needed to address the scale of the problem. 
 
It is time for the Commonwealth to step up to its responsibility, and act on the issues that are within its capacity to change. 
 
We support calls from advocates for long term solutions. In the short term, there are changes we require right now. This includes: 
 
More investment in housing for women escaping violence 

More funding for legal services for victim-survivors

Action to support women on temporary visas who are fleeing violence

Sustained funding for frontline services

Properly implementing all the Respect@Work recommendations

More investment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-led responses

Legislating for 10 days of paid domestic and family violence leave  

Each of our jurisdictions has taken practical steps to increase support for victim-survivors and ensure the institutions we are responsible for are reacting to the challenge of violence.

Participants at this Summit will expect that the Commonwealth government does the same.  
 
Hon Shannon Fentiman MP, Minister for Women, Queensland 
Hon Gabrielle Williams MP, Minister for Women, Victoria
Hon Simone McGurk MLA, Minister for Women’s Interests, Western Australia
Hon Yvette Berry, Minister for Women, ACT 
Hon Lauren Moss, Minister for Women, Northern Territory 

Media contact: Olivia Amsden 0407 952 078