I want to thank Rosie Batty for her outstanding service to our nation as 2015 Australian of the Year.

Rosie's story is every parent's worst nightmare - an unspeakable tragedy no one should ever endure
 
By sharing her story and Luke's, she has shone a bright light on the crisis of family violence and put it firmly on the national agenda.

Rosie is an unlikely hero of our times - a remarkable and inspiring woman who has given a voice to so many who suffer in silence.

Rosie's grace and courage has forced us all to look beyond the silence and ambivalence that has shrouded family violence for too long.

She has inspired change, forced action and moved this country all closer to stamping out the shame of family violence.

As nation, we owe Rosie more than our humble thanks. We must continue to act.

Australia can best honour Rosie's ongoing work by pledging ourselves to the elimination of family violence, once and for all.

All of us in the Labor party rededicate ourselves to that goal today.

MONDAY, 25 JANUARY 2016

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