Ministerial Statement

Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission

Senate · Wednesday 9 September 2026

Official Hansard for this day (APH) · Read this debate on OpenAustralia

At a glance

The Senate debated the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission's 2026 report, which highlighted ongoing challenges in preventing violence against women and children. The government emphasised its record investment and upcoming legislative reforms, including a digital duty of care. Opposition and Greens members criticised the lack of measurable outcomes, long wait times for services, and insufficient funding for housing and prevention. The debate concluded with the motion to take note of the documents being agreed to.

Outcome

The motion that the Senate take note of the documents was agreed to.

Summary in reported speech - not a transcript. AI-generated, so check the official record before quoting.

How the debate unfolded

Opened the debate

Katy Gallagher (ACT) (Australian Labor Party) ALP

Gallagher tabled the commission's report and a ministerial statement from the Minister for Social Services. Gallagher highlighted the government's significant investment in frontline services, prevention programs, and the leaving violence payment. Gallagher noted that consultations for the Second Action Plan under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children were underway. Gallagher argued that new research linked misogynistic attitudes in teenage boys to algorithmic content, advocating for a digital duty of care law to protect young people from harmful online material.

Opposition response

Matt O'Sullivan (WA) (Liberal Party) Liberal

O'Sullivan argued that the report demonstrated systemic failures, citing long wait times for sexual assault support and domestic violence refuge accommodation across multiple states. O'Sullivan noted that only eight per cent of survey respondents could access all needed services when required. O'Sullivan emphasised that progress should be measured by actual safety outcomes rather than funding announcements. O'Sullivan called for a system that does not require victims to become experts in navigating complex support structures.

Larissa Waters (QLD) (Australian Greens) Greens oppose

Waters criticised the government for not keeping statistics on women killed by violence and highlighted high rates of assault among women with disabilities and First Nations women. Waters argued that housing insecurity forces women to remain in violent situations, calling for $4.6 billion in public housing funding. Waters stated that prevention funding must not come at the expense of crisis response services, which are currently overwhelmed.
Kerrynne Liddle (SA) (Liberal Party) Liberal oppose

Liddle argued that the government should prevent perpetrators of violence from holding taxpayer-funded board positions. Liddle cited recommendations from various royal commissions and reviews that had not been fully implemented. Liddle pointed out that Indigenous female victims of intimate partner violence had doubled since 2022. Liddle called for mandatory bans on perpetrators serving on boards, referencing a health organisation in central Australia that had adopted such a policy.
Maria Kovacic (NSW) (Liberal Party) Liberal oppose

Kovacic highlighted significant data gaps, noting that data was unavailable for around 68 per cent of the national plan's performance measures. Kovacic argued that the government could not demonstrate progress without reliable metrics on safety outcomes. Kovacic pointed out that sexual violence often occurs outside family relationships and requires distinct resource prioritisation. Kovacic called for the commission to be granted information-gathering powers to independently assess program effectiveness.

Opened by

Katy Gallagher (ACT) (Australian Labor Party)

ALP

Speeches

5 speeches, 3 other contributors

Topics

Family & Domestic Violence Housing Online Safety & Technology Women & Gender Equality

Debate Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission Yearly Report to Parliament Ministerial Statement, 16 Sep 2026 · Shared topics: Family & Domestic Violence, Housing
Debate Answers to Questions Take Note Debate, 16 Sep 2026 · Shared topics: Family & Domestic Violence, Women & Gender Equality
Question Time House Question Time 8 Sep 2026 · Shared topics: Family & Domestic Violence, Housing
Question Time House Question Time 14 Sep 2026 · Shared topics: Family & Domestic Violence, Housing

About Senate debates

The Senate debates bills, motions, matters of public importance and the answers given in Question Time. Senators from all parties and the crossbench take part, and a minister or the minister representing them usually replies for the government. Summaries are in reported speech, not transcripts; always check the official record before quoting.