THE HON. BILL SHORTEN MP

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

MEMBER FOR MARIBYRNONG

TIM WATTS MP

MEMBER FOR GELLIBRAND

 

MEDIA RELEASE

 

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ROUNDTABLE – MELBOURNE

 

Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten and Labor Member for Gellibrand, Tim Watts held a Roundtable discussion with leading domestic violence advocates in Footscray today.

 

The Roundtable follows the death of Fiona Warzywoda in Sunshine on April 16 and involves leaders from local, state and national organisations.

 

“The biggest risk factor for becoming a victim of sexual assault, domestic violence or family violence is being a woman,” Mr Shorten said.

 

“Our system failed Fiona, our nation failed Fiona – and we fatally fail at least one woman in Australia every week.”

 

“Today’s Roundtable is an opportunity for me to hear directly from the leading advocates, community organisations and academics on this issue.”

 

“We must put domestic violence at the centre of national political debate in order to change these chilling statistics,” said Mr Shorten.

 

Labor Member for Gellibrand, Tim Watts thanked local services for the work they do and for participating in this important forum.

 

“I know how hard the local service providers attending today work to help women and children at risk of family violence. It’s our job – political leaders and the broader community as a whole, to help to ease their load.”

 

“Men’s violence against women is a difficult and confronting issue – but through forums like this we’ll slowly but surely tackle this challenge head on.”

 

Around 20 leading advocates and community organisations are attending the Roundtable in Footscray today including from White Ribbon Australia, No to Violence Campaign, Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and Their Children, Women’s Health West, Women’s Legal Services Australia, Relationships Australia (Victoria), Family Violence Prevention Legal Services, Monash University, inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence, Municipal Association of Victoria, University of Melbourne, Women’s Health Association of Victoria, Footscray Community Legal Centre, Western Family Regional Integration Coordinator, Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria and Domestic Violence Victoria.

 

The Leader of the Opposition convened a similar Domestic Violence Roundtable in Sydney in October last year with leading advocates and local organisations.

 

MELBOURNE

FRIDAY, 15 AUGUST 2014

 

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