Greens Welcome Committee on Gendered Violence

The Greens welcome the broadening of the Terms of Reference of the Joint Sessional Committee on Gender and Equality to include gender-based violence — something the Greens have been long-advocating for. 

Family, domestic and family violence is a crisis, and a crime, but much more must be done if we are to eliminate abusive behaviours and violence, to create a safer Tasmania. That’s why the Greens’ have for nearly two years been moving for a Parliamentary committee to examine these issues.

We have been working across the Parliament to make this nation-leading committee happen. Tasmania is now the only parliament in Australia with a sessional committee looking at gendered violence.

We know reports of gender-based violence are increasing. To ensure it’s eliminated, we need to come together and go beyond politics. We want to see Tasmania become a nation-leader in eliminating gender-based violence. 

The motion calling for a joint house committee devoted to ‘Family, Domestic, and Sexual Violence’ was passed in the Lower House eleven months ago. Since then it has been pending members of the Legislative Council joining. 

Given the workload of members a decision was made to amalgamate the proposed committee into the existing Gender and Equality committee, by expanding the terms of reference and renaming that committee to ‘Gender, Gender-based Violence, and Equality’. While the new committee was not our first or the best option, we expect that it will encompass all that was initially proposed and that we can get on with this important work. 

The committee will be able to provide oversight of the government’s policies and suggest reforms. We hope this committee will do important work to support service providers, and to make the Tasmanian community safer for women and children. ​​​​​​