Domestic Violence Victims

The Hon. L.A. HENDERSON (15:20): Supplementary question: has the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs given a submission or will he give a submission to the royal commission, or has he met with the commissioner to share his views and his learnings from the community on this issue?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:21): I thank the honourable member for her question. It is a good question. I have met with Commissioner Natasha Stott Despoja, a former Senator, who is heavily involved in the issues around supporting women and girls, not just in Australia but who is internationally recognised and involved in international bodies doing this work.

I have had the benefit of having a meeting with the commissioner before the commission started. I look forward to continuing to do that. Certainly, in all three of my roles—in industrial relations it doesn't just touch upon but is significantly concerned with issues to do with the experience of domestic and family violence. We have passed legislation in this chamber already that makes it unlawful to discriminate against someone because of that experience but also to provide paid leave for people in the South Australian public sector and local government sector who have experienced family and domestic violence.

As Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, we have just touched upon how that intersects with my portfolio areas, and as Attorney-General there are many of the criminal justice responses to family and domestic violence that are critical. As the royal commission continues I am certain there will be, not just from areas that I am responsible for, many areas across government that will be providing information and support to the royal commission.

I know other areas of government, very significantly, are not just having laws changed but are providing services: the Department of Human Services and the Department for Child Protection. We see the results of offenders, who offend mainly against women and girls in family and domestic violence, in the Department for Correctional Services in our prison system. There is a role to play in the education system, a very significant role.

There is barely a part of government that won't be touched or I expect won't be contributing to this royal commission as we seek to do what we can collectively against the scourge of family and domestic violence in this country.