Federal and state governments will spend $30 million on a national awareness campaign to stop domestic violence as Prime Minister Tony Abbott told Parliament he will meet with Labor to discuss a bipartisan approach to the issue.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women Michaelia Cash announced the campaign during an International Women's Day lunch on Wednesday, describing domestic violence - which kills a woman a week - as a "scourge".
She later explained to Fairfax Media that there was a gap in Australians' understanding about domestic violence and that a campaign was needed, similar to those against smoking or drink driving.
She said that violence was a crime, regardless of whether there was a "domestic" or "family" in front of it.
"Violence is violence. It's a crime. Full stop."
The campaign will target multiple groups, from young people to people in rural and regional areas, to those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Papers about the campaign have already been circulated to states and territories ahead of a Council of Australian Governments meeting on domestic violence in the middle of the year.
This comes as Labor leader Bill Shorten announced he had written to the Prime Minister, seeking bipartisan support for a national crisis summit on domestic violence.
"If he believes this is unnecessary, I promise that within 100 days of a Shorten Labor government getting elected we will convene this summit," the Opposition leader told the National Press Club.
Mr Shorten said it would not be a "government talkfest" but a way for frontline service providers and survivors to extend the existing national plan against domestic violence. Labor also announced it would deliver more than $70 million over three years to improve frontline legal services, home safety measures and research into perpetrators of violence.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Abbott appeared unreceptive to Labor's national summit idea.
"Effectively, that's what I've already proposed," he told ABC Radio, noting the upcoming COAG meeting on domestic violence.
But in response to a question from Mr Shorten in question time, the Prime Minister said he would keep an open mind about Labor's proposal.
"I am very happy to agree to sit down with the Leader of the Opposition to discuss what both of us, what all of us can do to ensure we get better outcomes on this issue."
The campaign also comes as Senator Cash and Australian of the Year Rosie Batty launch a new app to help women experiencing violence on Thursday.
The free "Daisy" app provides women with a list of specialist sexual assault and domestic and family violence services in their local area.
It also features a "get help" button, which allows users to quickly call 000 and a "quick exit" button to leave screens that may alert perpetrators that a victim is seeking help.
On Wednesday, the Greens questioned the government's domestic violence priorities.
Greens spokeswoman for women Larissa Waters said said while she welcomed the awareness campaign announcement, the government should not have made recent budget cuts to community legal centres and homelessness funding, which support women escaping violent situations.
1800 Respect - the National Sexual Assault Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service - can be reached on 1800 737 732.
THE BIG IDEAS TO FIX GENDER INEQUALITY IN AUSTRALIA
As heard at the National Press Club's International Women's Day lunch
Affordable, flexible childcare, plus paid parental leave and tax reform – Workplace Gender Equality Agency director Helen Conway
A national program of "unconscious bias" training, so men, women and children understand power imbalances and what it means to have respectful relationships – Australian National Committee for UN Women executive director Julie McKay
A model where young people are brought up on a community basis, so the idea of having to choose between work and family was not an issue – Queensland Young Australian of the Year Yassmin Abdel-Magied
