THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
ACTING SHADOW MINISTER FOR JUSTICE
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
TERRI BUTLER MP
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR PREVENTING FAMILY VIOLENCE
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR UNIVERSITIES
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR EQUALITY
MEMBER FOR GRIFFITH
TURNBULL REFUSES TO MATCH LABOR'S COMMITMENT TO FAMILY VIOLENCE VICTIMS
Today in Question Time, Prime Minister Turnbull was offered the chance to join Labor in a bipartisan effort to stop family violence survivors being cross-examined by their abusers in court.
He did not take up the offer.
Ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women this week, Labor proposed simple reforms that would give judges the power to direct that alleged abusers be represented by Legal Aid. Labor also pledged $43 million a figure costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office - to Legal Aid to ensure this could happen.
Rather than indicating he would consider this proposal, offered in good faith by Labor, Mr Turnbull tried to pretend the government had already done enough.
Publishing a benchbook to guide judges is not enough by itself. It is a step, but it is not the same as stopping a shocking practice which traumatises family violence survivors afresh in our courts.
On the subject of funding Legal Aid, Mr Turnbull could only say the funding promised by Labor would not appear to us to be adequate for the task that [was] proposed. Not only is this not true, his government has stripped funding from legal assistance services across the country.
This government has said many things about family violence, but has not delivered on its promises.
Labor continues to call on the government to join our commitment to end cross-examination of family violence survivors by their abusers in court, as soon as possible.
WEDNESDAY, 23 NOVEMBER 2016
