National Cabinet has committed to a range of strategies to stop violence against women, but has it done enough?

This story was first published in The conversation.

“Violence against women is not a women’s problem to solve, it is a society-wide problem to solve; and men in particular must take responsibility.’

These were the words of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as he reported on the results of Wednesday’s national cabinet meeting on gender-based violence.

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This is a key point.

This is not the first time Australian government leaders and senior officials have met to discuss strategies to address violence against women. But this is the first time National cabinet met specifically to commit to larger actions. As seen in recent protest marches across the country, there are many public demands for swift change.

Following today’s meeting, there is a renewed commitment of “national unity” across all governments to the common mission of ending gender-based violence.

We know why this mission remains urgent.

At least 28 women have died allegedly from male violence so far this year. And many more women are living with the harms of male violence across the country.

One in four women have experienced violence from an intimate partner or family member from the age of 15. One in five women has experienced sexual violence and one in five women has experienced stalking.

While we appear to be making progress in reducing 12-month prevalence rates of intimate partner violence, our Personal safety survey it also shows that levels of sexual violence and stalking have not changed.

Clearly, we need more action.

What came out of the National Cabinet?

The biggest announcement from Wednesday’s meeting was a new federal government investment of A$925 million over five years to permanently establish the Leaving Violence Program. This will be included in the upcoming budget and builds on the existing pilot scheme. The scheme provides up to $5,000 in crisis support for women who have left abusive relationships, as well as a risk assessment and access to support services.

There was also a great emphasis on online measures to combat online harm and reduce the exposure of children and young people to violent and misogynistic content. This includes commitments to new laws banning sexualized “deepfake” images, as well as a review of classifications to reduce exposure to sexualized and violent content. And $6.5 million will be set aside to pilot age-verification technologies to limit children’s exposure to inappropriate content, including violent pornographic material.

The government will also propose a review of the Online Safety Act and the already proposed fast-track procedure anti-doxing laws. The purpose of these steps is to protect victims from online harm, including non-consensual disclosure of their personal information.

The Prime Minister also highlighted several existing commitments of the federal government. These include commitments to funding for homeless women and housing services and increases in funding for the eSafety Commissioner.

The next phase of the national was also mentioned Stop it at the beginning campaign to be launched mid-year and will focus on how to have preventative conversations with young people about their attitudes and behaviour.

Importantly, there is agreement that the national cabinet will meet again on violence against women next quarter and report on progress made and important next steps.

States and territories have also agreed to collaborate and share their own evidence and best practice initiatives.

What further changes might be on the horizon?

To end gender-based violence, we must do everything we can. We need a range of short, medium and long term actions. The results of the national cabinet meeting indicated some additional areas identified for ongoing discussion.

There were suggestions of the need for greater harmonization of laws between states and territories. This is vital if we are to ensure that women have equal protection and access to justice regardless of where in Australia they live.

What was not mentioned, however, was the need to adequately resource specialist police, legal and judicial support services access to justice for victims of domestic and sexual violence.

Improved information sharing between countries and territories to promote greater accountability for repeat perpetrators of violence was also mentioned. It’s not a simple area, but there it is good examples of coordinated systemic responses that show when and how information sharing can be vital to women’s safety.

Workforce issues were also mentioned with a call for faster implementation of the federal government’s existing commitment to 500 additional domestic and family violence support workers. If you talk to these support services, it is clear that they are in high demand by surviving victims. There are often unacceptable waiting lists. Additional workers are much needed, but affordable and accessible training will also be needed to expand this specialized workforce.

Albanese also emphasized both the effectiveness of education of respectful relationships in schools and the need for a national approach to education for respectful relationships across the country.

To date, Victoria and Queensland are leading the way in this work, but we certainly need to increase our prevention efforts with young people if we are to end gender-based violence for the next generation.

Implementation of the National Plan

The National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children (2022 to 2032) and its first action plans already identify a shared road map through prevention, early intervention, response and recovery.

Each of these four priority areas is critical to a holistic strategy to end gender-based violence.

And for the first time we have a stand-alone Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan with an already announced federal government commitment to National Plan for First Nations Women. This is particularly important in light of over-representation of First Nations women experiencing violence.

Implementation of these strategies must continue to be a priority.

The National Plan has been developed over many years of research, consultation and expertise both in the sector and in real life. And it is perhaps the world leader in its comprehensive approach.

But like Michaela CroninAustralia’s first Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner noted: “No plan in such a complex area can be a ‘set it and forget it’ plan.”

It is vital that we draw on evidence-based approaches and best practices as we continue to refine our actions to address prevention of gender-based violence. This includes addressing gender inequality and the intersecting inequalities that lead to violence against women.

And also directly addressing the exacerbating factors that can contribute to violence and its escalation, such as previous experiences with violence, drug and alcohol abuse, problem gambling and poverty.

Furthermore, there is an urgent need for governments to continue to work together to coordinate action and adequate investment at all levels of government. This is not the time to play politics between parties.

No Australian government has yet addressed this issue.

Every Australian government can and should do more to improve women’s safety.

Perhaps the most important outcome of the national cabinet meeting is not just a renewed national commitment to action to end gender-based violence, but an Australia that will hold all governments to account for delivering on their promises.

The National Sexual, Family and Domestic Violence Advice Line – 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for any Australian who has experienced or is at risk of family and domestic violence and/or sexual violence.

– Author Anastasia Powell is Professor of Domestic and Sexual Violence at RMIT University