This week is a very important week in the fight to put a stop to violence against women.
On Tuesday this week White Ribbon Day, which also occurred on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, took place. Tuesday was also the start of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. All are aimed at sending a strong message that violence against women is not acceptable under any circumstance.
Today I welcomed representatives from government and the community sector in Tasmania to an information session presented by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation on the findings of the 2013 National Community Attitudes towards Violence Against Women Survey (2013 NCAS).
The third biennial survey, released in September of this year, is based on more than 17,500 twenty-minute interviews with Australians 16 years and older. It measures community knowledge and attitudes towards violence and gender equality, and tracks changes over time.
The findings from the survey reveal a mix of results, some encouraging, and others deeply concerning.
Most Australians recognise that violence against women includes a range of behaviours, not just physical violence. However, up to one in five believe that there are still situations in which women bear some responsibility for the violence.
The results from the Survey also indicated that young people remain an area of concern with young people generally more supportive of violence than others. It is important that we all continue to educate our young people about the impact of violence.
The Liberal Government is committed to providing a safe environment for all women and their children, free from violence.
The Tasmanian Government is contributing $100,000 over a three year period towards Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS). This will be used to improve the evidence-base for policy development, service and support for women and education about family violence.
The Government remains committed to primary prevention and the 10 year strategy Taking Action –Tasmania's Primary Prevention Strategy to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children.