In 2015, 79 women were killed as a result of domestic violence.
Many of them were named; Melinda Horner, Maureen Boyce, Jody Meyers were some of them.
Many were not.
But even though we don’t know their names, they were women with mothers, often with children. They were women who loved and had been loved.
For too long, domestic violence has been hidden in our community. But that is now starting to change, thanks to the extraordinary work of victims, advocates and supporters, people like Rosie Batty, David Morrison, Sarah Ferguson, the researchers and team at Destroy the Joint to name a few.
And, thankfully, political leaders are now starting to give domestic violence more attention and more support.
The Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten, along with senior ministers Tanya Plibersek and Senator Katy Gallagher launched a renewed focus on tackling gender inequality at a Women’s Policy Launch in Sydney today.
Central to that launch was an announcement that Labor would invest $88 million over two years in a new Safe Housing program, to improve transitional housing options for women and children escaping domestic and family violence by filling the gap between crisis housing and longer term arrangements.
In September of last year, the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced a $100 package to tackle family violence, and announced further cash injections in the 2016 Budget.
Let’s break down everything you need to know about how the major parties plan to support women escaping family violence before you vote.