Domestic Violence

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:23): My question is to the Minister for Human Services about a domestic violence initiative. The community has welcomed the government's commitment to addressing domestic violence issues. Can the minister please advise the council about the progress that was made during the Coalition of Australian Governments National Summit on Reducing Violence against Women and their Children that was hosted recently in Adelaide?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (15:23): I thank the honourable member for her ongoing interest in this important matter. South Australia was very honoured to co-host the COAG National Summit on Reducing Violence against Women and their Children, which ran on 2 and 3 October 2018, which had as its very important role consultation on the Fourth Action Plan for 2019-2022. A range of delegates came from across Australia to provide feedback on the Fourth Action Plan.

The summit ran for two days, with three themes: prevention, response and recovery, which are central themes of the national consultation process. While each jurisdiction has its own particular reform agenda, the summit was to focus on how to drive a reduction in violence against women and their children at the national level, recognising that the national plan is designed to provide a coordinated framework to improve the scope, focus and effectiveness of all governments' actions.

We were pleased that Natasha Stott Despoja AM was the MC for the event. We had a range of very well credentialled delegates from across Australia, including our own South Australian contingent. The Premier actually spoke on the morning of the second day. His speech was particularly well received. He acknowledged the role that men need to play in this space, which is reflected particularly through movements such as the White Ribbon movement, where some of the conversations that men have with other men are some of the most powerful ways to change the thinking of people who may display disrespect to women.

It was also the launch of the new advertising campaign, 'Let's stop it at the start,' which focuses on parents' responses to things that can be said as throwaway lines, and that was very powerful.