All spin and no action on anti violence campaign for women

11-March-2009

“It is incumbent on the Rudd Labor Government to formulate and release it’s Violence against Women’s policy after 16 months of in-action,” Federal Shadow Minister for Women Sophie Mirabella MP said today.

“Looking at the big issues that directly affect women, such as, prevention of violence against women, paid maternity leave, and childcare – it’s safe to say that Labor’s record on these is a microcosm of their approach to governing the country over the past 16 months - best summed up as; committees, reports, taskforces, delays, indecision, and disappointment,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“The then Labor Opposition and Tanya Plibersek vehemently criticized the former Howard Government’s policy regarding violence against women, so much so that in government they shamefully abolished the “Violence against women - Australia says No” campaign. Alarmingly it has not been replaced.”

“There has now been no public education about violence against women for 16 months. This is not good enough,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“I have publicly welcomed the Government’s promise of a National Action Plan to Reduce to violence against Women and Children which was sent to a newly-formed Council. The Council has been working hard, widely consulting and genuinely working on what is hoped will be a practical plan.”

“However, given the $52 billion Labor has spent in recent months in spending packages, one has to ask the question – where will the money come from to fund any initiatives in the new National Action Plan? Will this too suffer a fate worse than death and go the same way as a paid parental leave scheme?” Mrs Mirabella said

“Women in Australia need our support and our protection from violence and while talk is cheap, the community needs to know they have a Government and a Minister working to address violence against women now.”

“Once again the Rudd Government has let politics and spin govern their decision making in this area. In the meantime, though, women have been left with no anti-violence campaign to help educate the wider population,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.