Recommendation 164

Women and children in Australia have the right to feel safe and live without fear of violence.

The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-22 (National Plan) is a 12 year plan that aims to reduce violence against women and their children. The National Plan was released in February 2011 and is being delivered through four three-year action Plans. The National Plan provides a mechanism to drive effort and make investment in reducing domestic, family and sexual violence.

Under the Third Action Plan 2016-2019 of the National Plan the Australian Government is working to build the evidence-base on diverse experiences of violence. For example, the Government funded Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety to deliver a state of knowledge paper 'Invisible women, invisible violence: understating and improving data on the experience of domestic and family violence and sexual assault for diverse groups of women" (December 2016).

Initiatives under the Third Action Plan 2016-2019 of the National Plan which address women with disability include:

• $2.058 million for 1800RESPECT Disability Pathway Project, to develop integrated, responsive and more accessible services for women with disabilities.
• $0.7 million for 1800RESPECT research to explore viability of online video counselling providing safe and relevant services for women in regional and remote areas and women with disabilities.
• $1.5 million to Lifeline for DV-Alert, to develop and deliver free, accredited and nationally available domestic and family violence training specifically for the disability sector.

The Third Action Plan sets out 36 practical actions, across six National Priority areas, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their children being a priority cohort. In October 2016 the Government announced a $25 million package of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander initiatives under the Third Action Plan which includes trauma-informed therapeutic services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children affected by family violence to break the cycle of intergenerational violence.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar, is currently leading a national consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls to understand their priorities, needs and aspirations, for themselves and their families. The Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women's Voices) project runs throughout 2018, with the Commissioner to provide her report to the Commonwealth in mid-2019. The report will provide guidance to governments on how to better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls as active citizens and positive change makers.

In the 2016-17 Budget, the Australian Government committed a further $100 million for initiatives under the Third Action Plan, including $25 million for Indigenous-specific initiatives. This is on top of a $100 million Women's Safety Package announced in September 2015. The Third Action Plan package includes practical measures, such as investment in innovative technologies to keep women safe; extending support services in remote Indigenous communities; and providing education resources to teach young people about respectful relationships.

The Australian Government in collaboration with state and territory governments established a national organisation to drive nationwide change in the culture, behaviours and power imbalances that lead to violence against women and children. In 2018, this organisation released 'Changing the Picture: a national resource to support the prevention of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their children'.

A key action of the Third Action Plan is to work with the disability and mainstream services sector to improve the safety and support women with disability who are at risk of violence. The Australian Government will continue to implement actions under the Third Action Plan to support women and girls with disabilities and Indigenous women. 

Australia has comprehensive anti-discrimination laws at federal, state and territory level that are the subject of ongoing review and public debate. The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) makes discrimination unlawful on a range of grounds , including race, colour, descent and national or ethnic origin.

The Australian Government supports the National Anti-Racism Strategy and its related public awareness campaign, Racism. It Stops With Me.

Australia has had a dedicated federal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner since 1993. The Commissioner is established within the Australian Human Rights Commission by Part IIA of the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986(Cth). The Commissioner's functions include promoting discussion and awareness of human rights in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Commissioner also undertakes programmes (including research and educational programmes) to promote respect for the human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to promote the enjoyment and exercise of human rights by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Information about the current Commissioner and work underway can be found on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice page on the Australian Human Rights Commission website.

Australia has had a dedicated federal Race Discrimination Commissioner since 1986. The Commissioner is established within the Australian Human Rights Commission by the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). The Commissioner's functions include promoting understanding and acceptance of the Act, and developing research and educational programmes to combat racial discrimination. The Commissioner leads the National Anti-Racism Strategy and the 'Racism. It Stops With Me' campaign. Information about the current Commissioner and work underway can be found on the Race discrimination page on the Australian Human Rights Commission website.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) provides that it is unlawful for a person or organisation to discriminate against a person on the basis of disability in a range of areas of public life including employment, education, access to premises and the provision of goods, services and facilities. The Act also protects associates of people with disability from discrimination, and prohibits discrimination against people who have a carer, assistant, assistance animal or disability aid.

Australia has had a dedicated federal Disability Discrimination Commissioner since 1993. The Commissioner is established within the Australian Human Rights Commission by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth). The Commissioner's functions include protecting the rights of persons with disability in Australia and promoting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Information about the current Commissioner and work underway can be found on the Disability rights page of the Australian Human Rights Commission website.

The National Disability Strategy 2010-2020 is Australia's overarching framework for disability reform.  The Strategy provides a ten-year national policy framework for all levels of government to improve the lives of people with disability. The Strategy recognises gender can significantly affect the experience of disability, and women and girls with disability can face different and additional challenges by reason of their gender. Outcome Two of the Strategy, 'Rights protection, justice and legislation', includes policy directions for all levels of government to ensure the protection of people from violence, exploitation and neglect.

For information about state and territory policies and programs related to domestic and family violence, visit:

• Australian Capital Territory – Community Services Directorate
• New South Wales – Domestic Violence
• Northern Territory – Territory Families
• Queensland – Queensland Government
• South Australia – Office for Women
• Tasmania – Department of Premier and Cabinet – Safe Homes, Safe Families
• Victoria – Department of Human Services
• Western Australia – Department for Child Protection and Family Support

For information on state and territory anti-discrimination laws, visit:

• Australian Capital Territory – ACT Human Rights Commission
• Northern Territory – NT Anti-Discrimination Commission
• New South Wales – Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW
• Queensland – Queensland Government and Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland
• South Australia –  Equal Opportunity Commission SA
• Tasmania – Equal Opportunity Tasmania
• Victoria – Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
• Western Australia – Equal Opportunity Commission