Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called on men in Australia to challenge high rates of domestic violence and abuse following a horrifying spike in the number of women killed by family violence this year.
He marked International Day to Elimination of Violence Against Women by declaring “there is no time to waste” in ending violence against women and children.
“It isn’t just the job of governments. Changing the attitudes that entrench inequality and discrimination, and objectify women and disregard consent, is everyone’s responsibility,” Mr Albanese wrote in a statement.
“Men in particular have to step up. And male leaders have an opportunity to champion change and create the conditions that prevent violence, abuse, discrimination and harassment.”
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The prime minister said his government has taken “immediate and practical steps” to support victims of domestic violence but acknowledged there was still “a long way to go.”
His statement comes after renewed calls for a national royal commission into domestic violence, prompted by the tragic deaths of four women in South Australia this week.
Figures show one woman dies every 14 days at the hands of a former or current partner in Australia.
Since the start of the year, 53 women have been killed as a result of domestic violence, according to figures collected by advocacy group Destroy the Joint.
Despite comprising only about 3 per cent of the population, Indigenous women are killed at a three times higher rate than non-Indigenous women.
Greens spokesman on women Senator Larissa Waters said high rates of violence against women were an “epidemic” and called on the government to meet the safety sector’s calls for a $1bn per year investment into crisis services.
“Every year on this day we recommit to ending sexual and physical violence against women around the world, but frontline services are still underfunded and women and children are being turned away as a result,” she said.
“Enough with empty promises.
Enough with ignoring the impact of financial insecurity and housing stress on women’s capacity to leave. Enough with underfunding the services women reach out to in a crisis.”
Federal Labor has invested a total of $2.3bn over five years into its National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children.
Today, it announced a new statistical dashboard to be launched in mid-2024 that will give access to quarterly reporting on intimate partner homicide.
Minister for Women Katy Gallagher said that up-to-date and accurate data was “crucial” to support efforts to end violence and ensure women’s safety.
“One life lost to intimate partner homicide, is one too many,” she said.
The crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732.