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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-10-30 Daily Xml
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RECLAIM THE NIGHT

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (15:07): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question about Reclaim the Night.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Reclaim the Night is held internationally on the last Friday in October. It began in Rome in 1976 as a protest against the 16,000 reported rapes of women in one year. The concept was picked up around the world, and I understand it has been observed in Australia since 1978. Will the minister provide the chamber with the details of this year's Reclaim the Night?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (15:08): I thank the honourable member for his most important question and his ongoing interest in these very important policy matters. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Reclaim the Night events which traditionally focus on rape and sexual assault on the streets. I am pleased to inform members that this year's event is changing its focus to better reflect the reality of violence against women and to celebrate the resilience and achievements of women in our community.

Statistics about violence against women show that most of it does not occur randomly on the streets at all, as many of us believe. Rather, the overwhelming number of attacks on women—93 per cent, in fact—are inflicted by someone who is known to them. This will be the focus of this year's event. The devastating statistics relating to assaults against women continue to occur. According to the 2005 Personal Safety Survey Australia, 19.1 per cent of women in South Australia have experienced sexual assault since the age of 15. It also shows that women are more likely to be sexually assaulted by a current or previous partner or a family member or friend than by a stranger.

The state government has shown its commitment to women's safety by reforming the rape and sexual assault laws, and we remain committed to addressing the insidious nature of violence against women.

As part of the Rann Labor government's commitment to safety, we are currently undertaking a thorough review of South Australia's domestic violence legislation. Coordinated by the Women's Electoral Lobby, this year's Reclaim the Night event is being held between 7pm and 11.30pm at the Yungondi Courtyard at the Lion Arts Centre this Friday 31 October.

Tomorrow night will feature family-friendly entertainment, as well as food and other stalls. Lillian Holt, an inspiring Aboriginal woman, who was awarded the Gandhi/King/Ikeda Peace Prize in 2004 for her work in peace and reconciliation, will be the guest speaker at the event. Participants will also be entertained by DJ Narelle Walker, as well as Sista Act and Women of Country, the seven dynamic passionate deadly sisters who were the hit of the Adelaide Fringe Festival. Red hot cabaret trio The Three Chillies, who performed to sell-out crowds at the 2007 Feast Festival, will also be performing.

The organiser, the Women's Electoral Lobby (WEL), is an independent women's lobby group working to protect the rights of Australian women. WEL lobbies politicians, unions, employers, educationists and others on behalf of women and seeks to change social attitudes and practices that discriminate against women or create barriers to women participating fully within the community.

I congratulate WEL for placing the safety of women at the forefront of its agenda. It is the right of all women to feel safe in their homes and in the community, and Reclaim the Night provides a significant opportunity to engage with the community on this issue. It is also a great opportunity to catch up with friends, meet new people and have fun in a family-friendly atmosphere. I encourage members to attend and demonstrate their commitment to women's safety.

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