Reclaim the Night

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:13): 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. J.M. GAZZOLA: Australian women are more likely than men to experience physical and sexual violence in their homes at the hands of a current or ex-partner: 36 per cent of women have experienced physical or sexual violence from someone they knew. Will the minister update the chamber on how the government is supporting women to reclaim the night?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (15:14): I thank the honourable member for his most important question and his ongoing interest in this particular policy area and commitment to eliminating violence. This coming Friday, 31 October, we will be very pleased to participate in the tradition of the Reclaim the Night march here in Adelaide. As the name suggests, Reclaim the Night aims to recognise the fundamental right of women to be safe. Women are invited to march for the right of women and children to be free of the fear and reality of violence in their homes, on the streets and at work.

Violence against women can have a devastating impact on our community. It can destroy families. Children who are exposed to domestic violence experience serious long-term harm. The economic impact is estimated to be $13.6 billion across Australia in 2013—that is $13.6 billion. Domestic violence affects workplace productivity and results in increased demand on health, welfare, social housing, crisis care and a wide range of different services and support. The worst statistic of them all is that in Australia, nearly one woman every week is killed by a current or former partner—a devastating statistic.

I am sure that all members are familiar with the case of Zahra Abrahimzadeh, a woman who was repeatedly stabbed by her estranged husband at a cultural event held at the Convention Centre in March 2010. Following her coronial inquest, the State Coroner published a series of recommendations, which he has directed to the Premier. Earlier this month, members will be aware that the Premier released 'Taking a Stand: Responding to Domestic Violence'. This is in addition to a separate response by the police, which outlined the police measures that they have already been put in place or are going to put in place to improve the way they interact and deal with those affected by domestic violence. The government response includes a number of initiatives; some directly relating to the Coroner's concerns, and others more broad measures to help eliminate domestic violence. These include:

a women's domestic violence court assistance service—a confidential and free service that will be provided to assist women who attend court for domestic violence and family violence, to enable them to successfully deal with the court system and to obtain justice;

an early warning system—a government systems response which will increase accountability, particularly in instances where a response by a government agency compromises safety; and

the largest employer in South Australia, the state government, will obtain White Ribbon workplace accreditation for all of its departments.

I will outline some of what that means in a minute. There is acknowledgement from the Premier and many others that men must act to change ingrained attitudes which disrespect and devalue women. The need for cultural change is reflected in the government's pledge as a member of OurWatch, an independent not-for-profit organisation which aims to change social and cultural attitudes, behaviours and social norms that underpin the reasons that violence against women is perpetrated. It acts as, if you like, a Petri dish for violence to grow in and thrive in.

I encourage all those members who are willing and able to join me this Friday to 'reclaim the night' and demonstrate their commitment and support to ensuring women and children live free from the threat of violence. This is another way that women and men can help address the attitudinal change that we need to ensure that women are respected in our society. The march will start outside Victoria Square and proceed down King William and Hindley streets to the West Bar at UniSA, for those that are interested.

In relation to White Ribbon accreditation, the White Ribbon Workplace Accreditation Program recognises workplaces that have taken steps to prevent and respond to violence against women by accrediting them as a White Ribbon Workplace. We already have a large number of White Ribbon Ambassadors in this chamber: the Hon. John Gazzola is an ambassador; so too are the Hon. John Dawkins, the Hon. Stephen Wade, the Hon. Mark Parnell and the Hon. Gerry Kandelaars. There are many members here in this chamber. If I have failed to recognise someone I apologise. That demonstrates a real commitment by men in this place.

Through this program organisations become accredited to do things like prevent men's violence against women, drive social change and refine support offered to employees who are victims of violence. The work done in achieving accreditation could include things like strengthening our policies, and I know I have already spoken in this place of the fact, for instance, that each of the agencies now has a domestic violence policy in place. This will urge each agency in turn to go back and look at that policy, and looks at ways they might be able to strengthen that, to promote gender equity in the workplace.

We can always improve on that. We know that, for instance, although we have done a lot to improve the proportion of women in senior executive positions and other leadership positions in government, we can still do better in that place. So this will help encourage agencies to look at things like that, as part of influencing the social and cultural attitudes underpinning violence again women. As I said, it is those values that underpin and create the conditions that violence can thrive in, so those cultural attitudes are very important.