DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (16:27): Thank you, Mr Acting Speaker. I would be very sad if my opportunity were missed, because I wish to pay tribute today to the people involved with the Onkaparinga collaborative approach to the prevention of domestic violence and Indigenous family violence and their efforts in the De-Myth-Defied Myth Buster Sticker Project.

This project, I think, took about two years. It was a community consultation to address the fact that, while many people today recognise that domestic violence is simply inappropriate, there are still myths which remain within the community and which need to be addressed. The research shows in the National Community Attitude Towards Violence Against Women Survey from 2009 that progress has been made in this area. For instance, the vast majority of the community now agrees that physical and sexual assault and threats are domestic violence—between 97 per cent and 98 per cent compared with between 91 per cent and 97 per cent in 1995.

The community was more likely in 2009 to recognise the spectrum of domestic violence behaviours as very serious than they were in 1995—98 per cent of people today say that domestic violence is a crime compared with 93 per cent in 1995. Also, 93 per cent of people agree that forced sex in an intimate relationship is a crime. Very few people believe that women who are raped ask for it. One in 20 believed this in 2009 compared with one in seven in 1995.

At this stage I would like to pay tribute to the work of the former attorney-general, the member for Croydon, and the legislation he brought before this house relating both to what might be in common parlance known as rape in marriage or in intimate relationships and making it very clear that a marriage licence is not a licence to have one's way with people. One has to respect sexual partners on each and every occasion. This was important legislation, as was the women's safety legislation, which enabled women to stay in their homes and the perpetrators of domestic violence to be removed. However, given that, we still have a way to go with people really being able to come to grips with the problems that domestic violence causes—and it causes huge problems, on an individual level, on a family level and on an Australia-wide level. The latest estimate is that the cost of domestic violence in our community is $13 billion a year.

People associated with the Onkaparinga Collaborative Approach, women and men together, have set about addressing this, and have produced a series of stickers to be displayed in prominent places. The words on the stickers are, as I said, the result of wide community consultation and reflect discussions held in many community groups with a wide range of community organisations. One sticker says, 'His abuse impacted on my confidence, my health, my ability to work...', and the myth pointed to there is that domestic violence is a private issue. The response on the sticker is:

Domestic violence is not a private issue, it is a community issue. The effects of violence against women permeate all levels of society. What you say and do can make a difference to a woman or child affected by domestic violence.

Another sticker says simply, '"I believe you." I wish someone had said that to me years ago.' That is attributed to Veronica, and it repeats the message that domestic violence is not a private issue. Another sticker says, 'He never physically hurts me, but he says he will if I leave.' That is attributed to Wendy. The myth here is that women can easily leave a violent relationship. The sticker's response is:

There are many reasons why a woman can't leave a violent relationship. Women experience both the violence, and the blame for not resolving the situation. It is also incorrect to assume that if she leaves, she will be safe.

I commend all the people involved in the preparation of this sticker series.