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Inquiry into Domestic Violence Spring Edition 2012 Trends and Issues in NSW Over the past 12 months, I have been conducting an inquiry into domestic violence, which was reported to Parliament this month. Domestic violence is a profoundly personal problem, a destructive social issue, and a serious gender crime. It is linked to death, physical and mental ill health, disability, child abuse, and homelessness, and has been estimated to cost the NSW economy at least $4.5 billion each year. In undertaking the Inquiry, we sought to identify priorities and imperatives, informed through extensive consultation with stakeholders, to ensure that future action by the Government addresses the key issues in the right way. On 30 August, I hosted the Annual NSW/ACT Girl Guides Lunch in Parliament House, with Dr Geoff Lee MP and members of Girl Guides NSW and ACT Executive Evidence before the Inquiry revealed the current system works in silos, without clear direction and outcomes for NSW Secondary School victims. It has also been overly focused on criminal justice interventions, at the expense of victim support services. Leadership Forum I had the pleasure of being a speaker and mentor to Subsequently, the NSW Government has advised that the young participants of the State Secondary School it is preparing the NSW Domestic and Family Violence Leadership Forum held in State Parliament House in (DFV) Framework for release in early 2013. The strategic August. Students from across NSW and future young Framework is intended to deliver an integrated, whole leaders alike, joined together to discuss issues that were of government response to domestic violence, focused relevant to them in the context of leadership and at the on primary prevention, offender accountability, and long same time were able to express their points of view to term reduction of domestic and family violence. policy makers. Recommendations from our Inquiry suggest the DFV Framework should be built on three core principles. Firstly, domestic violence is completely unacceptable and as a society we must make an ongoing effort to eradicate it. Secondly, the DFV Framework must reflect that people’s needs are paramount, that the system exists to address those needs, and that all agencies and workers have a responsibility to respond to needs in a timely, flexible, holistic and individualised way. The third principle focuses on the service providers within the domestic violence system, both government and non-government, delivering needs in a timely, holistic and individualised way. They have a responsibility to work towards the common With Scott Farlow and university students goal of safety and freedom from violence for victims and children, but also accountability and change to non-violent Transport Master Plan behaviour for perpetrators. This month, we announced the draft Long Term Transport Master Plan for the whole of NSW. For the Comprehensive change is what is required across the first time, NSW will have an integrated transport plan, policing, court and service systems, matched with a much which will include all modes of public transport, roads, greater focus on prevention and early intervention. A copy freight, cycling, and walking. The Plan includes more of the report is available from www.parliament.nsw.gov.au, than 200 short, medium and long-term actions and otherwise please contact me on 9230 2836 or natasha. recommendations. A copy of the Plan can be down [email protected] loaded from www.transportmasterplan.nsw.gov.au Women in NSW 2012 The O’Farrell Government is committed to addressing gender imbalances, improving opportunities for women and ensuring their safety. On 3 July 2012, the Minister for Women, Pru Goward, launched Women in NSW 2012, the firstAnnual Report on the status of women in NSW, delivering on another election commitment. Information gathered for the Report is evidence based and will assist in policy and decision-making, to ensure our efforts achieve real change for the people of NSW. Meeting the Hon John Howard OM AC Furthermore, the Report dispels myths about women’s with David Elliott MP, Ray Williams MP, Andrew Cornwell MP, lives and highlights their performance across a variety Mark Speakman MP, Greg Aplin MP, John Barilaro MP, of areas. Roza Sage MP, Ellen Robertsons (Australian Hotels Association) and the Hon Matthew Mason-Cox MLC Western Sydney Drivers to Benefit as M5 West Widening Gets Underway One of our key election commitments was the widening of the M5 West motorway in Sydney’s south-west and I am glad to report this has started and is expected to be completed towards the end of 2014. This project will mean faster journeys for the 90,000 motorists who use the motorway every day. Attending the NSW Women in League reception at the State Library with the Hon Pru Goward MP, Melanie Gibbons MP, Catherine Lumby, NRL Welfare Committee Shane Mattiske, Interim CEO ARL Commission, and Catherine Harris, ARL Commission In addition, the Report also provides useful information about historical changes and tracks a range of indicators to evaluate gender equality and gender difference in NSW. The five areas examined including health and wellbeing, education and learning, work and financial Meeting with Sir Allan Kemekeza and Lady Kemekeza from security, leadership and representation, and safety and the Solomon Islands with the Hon Thomas George MP, Daryl access to justice. Maguire MP, Sir Trevor Garland (Honorary Consul), Future reports will allow progress to be tracked over the Hon Dr Peter Phelps MLC, the Hon Shelley Hancock MP time and new data from the 2011 Census, drawn from and the Hon Don Harwin MLC consultation with the community, will shape the next Strategic Regional Land Use Policy report. A copy of the Women in NSW 2012 Report can Recently we announced the Strategic Regional Land be downloaded from www.facs.nsw.gov.au/about_us/ Use Policy which will balance growth in the mining news/women_in_nsw_2012. and coal seam gas industries with the need to protect important agricultural land and water resources. This policy is the result of an extensive consultation process, during which the views of farmers, miners, and the wider community were heard. In the final plan, the amount of agricultural land mapped for protection increased by more than 680,000 hectares to over two million hectares. NSW now has the strongest regulation of coal seam gas exploration in Australia. For more information visit http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/slurp. The Hon Natasha Maclaren-Jones MLC Parliament House Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: (02) 9230 2836 Fax: (02) 9230 2698 Women’s Lunch with [email protected] Chantelle Fornari-Orsmond and Kristy Knox Printed and distributed at my own expense.

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