Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) — I am very pleased to speak today on the motion to take note of the addresses regarding the prevention of family violence led by Ms Rosie Batty on 26 November 2015. Being present as a member of this Parliament on that day was one of the most significant events since my election, and indeed I think it was one of the most significant events in the history of this Parliament. It was an honour to hear from Rosie Batty, Kristy McKellar, Joumanah El Matrah, Muriel Bamblett, the Chief Commissioner of Police, Graham Ashton, Annette Gillespie and Rodney Vlais as they each addressed the Parliament on family violence.

Violence against women and children is not new. The understanding that this is a gendered issue is not new. The knowledge that family violence has its roots in flawed perceptions of privilege, entitlement, power, control and, above all, disrespect is not new. What is new is that we are now prepared to confront this national disgrace head on, to call it out for what it is, to investigate the extent, the effect and the appropriate response and to do all we can to save the lives of women and children and to create a cultural shift to zero tolerance of family violence.

The heartfelt address of Rosie Batty shone a light on the attitudes and perceptions which many have previously preferred to leave unspoken. I thank her for that, and I thank her for her year of passionate advocacy as she made the absolute most of her time as Australian of the Year, brought family violence to the fore and continued to push for national awareness of this national disgrace. I also have to say that as well as being one of the most significant and proud days as a member of this place, it was also one of the most difficult. My heart again broke for Rosie and the tragic loss of her son, Luke. As Rosie said, ‘The need for power and control at any cost is beyond our comprehension’. Indeed it is, and it just makes the loss of her son, Luke, so much more tragic.

Family violence survivor Kristy McKellar shared her heartbreaking experience of betrayal, cruelty, unrelenting violence and escalating abuse. She shared her sadness that her daughter’s experience of family violence began in utero. She shared the story of the final assault against her when her perpetrator dissolved her chemotherapy medication in water so she could not take her critical treatment and of the lengthy physical abuse that followed whilst her 20‑week‑old daughter lay distressed in her cot in the next room. The extent of abuse against Kristy was also beyond my comprehension.

I am lucky that the extent of abuse to which Kristy was subjected is beyond my comprehension, because for so many it is not. For far too many it is all too familiar. It is far too familiar for the families of the two women per week who are murdered at the hands of their partners. It is far too familiar for the one in three women who are violated or physically assaulted by their partner. And it is far too familiar for the one in four children who witness this trauma.

Thanks largely to antiviolence advocates such as Rosie and Kristy, many others have also found the strength to stand up and speak out, and this conversation has continued to grow and to come out of the dark corners into public spaces. Family violence is no longer discussed in hushed whispers. It is no longer the almost taboo conversation that I witnessed as a volunteer solicitor assisting with the intervention order list at Broadmeadows Magistrates Court. Family violence discussions can now be heard loud and clear in public outcries that enough is enough.

This was evident at the family violence community forum that I co‑hosted with the member for Broadmeadows on 20 May 2015. As the member for Broadmeadows mentioned, this forum was attended by over 150 people, including the Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence; the federal member for Calwell, Maria Vamvakinou; representatives of Victoria Police; representatives of Hume City Council; representatives of Kangan Institute and local schools; and representatives of the many culturally and linguistically diverse groups within the community.

A common theme in that forum and in the addresses to the Parliament has been that appropriate preventive responses to family violence need to recognise and address the causes of family violence, such as gender inequality and attitudes towards women. This may require generational cultural change, and, given that our behaviours are learnt, this cultural change needs to take place in the home, at school, in the workplace and in the community. Family violence needs to be seen as universally unacceptable and as a whole‑of‑community problem.

The view held by some that family violence is a domestic or personal issue where others should not get involved also needs to change. As one attendee at the community forum noted, there are no innocent bystanders in family violence. Everyone is responsible, and we all need to be proactive and speak up as it may save a life. As Rosie Batty made clear in her address to the Parliament, we also need to shift from victim blaming to perpetrator accountability. The question should never be, ‘Why doesn’t she leave?’; we should be asking, ‘Why doesn’t he stop being violent?’ or ‘Why doesn’t he leave?’.

Another important issue is to ensure that all forms of abuse are understood, as the current perception of family violence is often limited to physical violence only. All members of the community need to understand that there are other behaviours that may constitute family violence, including repeated threats, derogatory taunts, damaging property, withholding financial support or financial autonomy, preventing family associations, friendships or cultural connections, or causing death or injury to an animal.

An example provided at the community forum was that of a newly arrived migrant woman who was not allowed to learn English. Many others present noted that this was not uncommon, with the male becoming the gatekeeper of information. In one example the police had visited the home with concerns about potential family violence, and the husband had told the wife that they had attended because they were concerned about her parenting and they may take the children if she did not behave as he instructed.

In Joumanah El Matrah’s address to this place she discussed her extensive work with migrant women who experience family violence and abuse, which reflected the accounts of those at the community forum, including women whom she had worked with who had been citizens for 10 years yet still believed their husbands could have them deported and have their children taken from them. I thank Joumanah for the work she is doing in this difficult area, raising awareness and providing support in our culturally and linguistically diverse community.

It is acknowledged that support for people involved in family violence, be it as victims, perpetrators, friends or family, will not of itself solve the problem and that community change is needed. A common theme in discussions has been that many women experiencing family violence want to leave but they cannot as they do not have anywhere to go, nothing to go with and no knowledge as to how they will be able to leave. Too many victims — or, as the member for Lowan rightly pointed out, survivors — do not know what services are available, how to report family violence or how to be heard. We need to ensure that this information is easily accessible and understandable.

Victims have also raised issues in relation to the safety of their pets and concerns about being separated from their pets. One victim explained that as her relationship deteriorated, her attachment to her dog became stronger and she relied upon this pet for affection and companionship.

Sadly research shows that family pets are a powerful tool that perpetrators can use to coerce or intimidate victims, and pets can themselves become victims of cruelty associated with family violence. A 2008 study reported that 53 per cent of women in violent relationships reported that their pets had also been abused, and in 17 per cent of households where there is family violence a pet has been killed. Animal abuse was also discussed by Kristy McKellar in her address to this place. She told of witnessing a perpetrator throw one of her pet dogs off a handrail, down the decking and a flight of six stairs onto the paved ground.

While there is no quick fix and no single answer to prevent or respond to family violence and there are many issues that need to be addressed, I believe we are finally on the right track. So much is being done to finally address gender inequality and family violence, and we cannot let the momentum stop.

I will conclude with the words of the Speaker from 26 November last year:

We want a Victoria that is equal, a Victoria that is safe. That is our human right.