Key Points
- Men must be included in community efforts to end gender-based violence, a new report says.
- The report warns that services and systems are “overwhelmed” by community needs.
- The national plan outlines how governments aim to end violence against women within a generation.
Masculinity must be redefined and men have to be included in community efforts to end gender-based violence, a new report says, as the federal government pledges to push for a whole-of-society change.
Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin will release the first annual report tracking the progress of the 2022-2032 during an address to the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.
She has met with more than 300 organisations and people in 2024, as government-funded services struggle to keep up with demand.
Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin met with more than 300 organisations and people in 2024 before compiling the report. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
“I know the anger and distress that many communities feel — and their frustration at the lack of progress in addressing gender-based violence,” Cronin said.
The report will say and more intervention options for men are needed.
“Governments must support efforts to redefine masculinity and engage men effectively,” the commission wrote in a statement.
‘Protecting our daughters is not enough’
The report will warn that government-funded
It will be tabled in parliament, a year on from two action plans that have outlined steps to ending violence in a generation.
Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Justine Elliot told parliament women should not have to solve the issue alone.
“It’s important that all governments face up to where we fall short and look for ways to do it better, this is a whole of government, whole of country effort,” she said today.
“If we’re going to get anywhere, we need our whole community —including men — to step up.
“Protecting our daughters is not enough — generational change depends on educating our sons.”
Elliot said the statistics showing a large number of women killed by men in 2024 made it difficult to reconcile that there had been progress made on addressing domestic violence.
“When we look at the long-term picture, we can see significant improvements in community attitudes that reject and challenge this violence,” she said.
“We need to take every opportunity available to intervene early and stop violence from occurring.”
Deputy Opposition leader Sussan Ley said the , and that people needed to look beyond the raw statistics.
“These women had dreams. They had hopes and aspirations for their lives. They had friends. They were sisters and mothers. They were loved by so many in our communities, and we have lost them,” she told parliament.
“We are not just talking about statistics. We are talking about very real moments that have happened to real people, to people we know and people we do not.
“We must confront this issue with the fierce urgency we would if it was happening right here in this chamber, because it is happening and it must end.”
One of the plans focuses on the disproportionate level of .
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said family violence destroys lives and it must end.
“The safety of women and children experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence is a national priority for our government,” she said.
“We are working every day under the national plan, which is our comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy with states and territories to end violence against women and children in one generation.”
Rishworth said Labor had provided more than $3.4 billion for women’s safety in three federal budgets and convened a dedicated National Cabinet on this issue earlier in 2024.
If you or someone you know is impacted by family and domestic violence or sexual assault call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit .
In an emergency, call 000.
Other support service numbers include: Aboriginal Counselling Services on 0410 539 905, 13YARN on 13 92 76, Lifeline on 13 11 14 and the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service on 1800 211 028.
