MARK DREYFUS MP

The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that, as well as enjoying longer, fulfilling lives, older people can live free from abuse.

Today, we pause to remember the 298 people on-board Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on the 17th of July, 2014.

Today, we honour their lives, remember their dreams, and grieve with those left behind.

Today, we remain unwavering in our determination to ensure truth, justice and accountability for the victims and their loved ones.

The National Risk Assessment on terrorism financing and the National Risk Assessment on money laundering are detailed assessments of the risks, threats, vulnerabilities and consequences of these crimes in Australia

Australians will remember the shock of waking on the morning of 18 July 2014 our time to learn the shocking news. An ordinary, scheduled passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur had been shot from the skies above the east of Ukraine.

All aboard – 283 passengers and 15 crew – had lost their lives in unspeakable circumstances.

It is an honour for me to meet with you again today in your beautiful country. And it is my great pleasure to be here to present the Police Patrol Vessel Minigulai to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, on behalf of the Australian Federal Police.

I will speak to you this evening about our shared challenges, our different approaches to tackling those challenges, and how our collaboration strengthens a crucial value that underpins democracy in both our nations - the rule of law. The rule of law is the foundational framework for a society where power is wielded - not arbitrarily, but with accountability and predictability.

For a society and a nation to be free, prosperous and successful, there must be respect for the rule of law.

Today’s meeting of the Police Ministers’ Council comes at a time when the nation is united in demanding that political leaders act to protect women from violence. Violence overwhelmingly committed by men.

Privacy is critical to the functioning of our free and democratic society. It underpins freedom of association, expression and belief, and is of upmost importance to promoting trust in government and industry.

We have a crisis of male violence in Australia.

It is a scourge in our society and it must end.

To create lasting change, women cannot be expected to solve violence against women alone.

It’s time for men to step up.

What Port Arthur taught us in 1996, what the landmark agreement on the National Firearms Register in 2023 has demonstrated, and what the ongoing commitment of gun safety advocates and responsible gun owners show, is that Australians are committed to doing everything we can to keep our communities and police safe from gun violence.