PRIVATE MEMBER`S STATEMENT

 WHITE RIBBON DAY

 In June this year I spoke about fundraising activities in the Goulburn electorate. One of the events was a clothes switching party that I held to raise money for the Southern Highlands Domestic Violence Forum that supports victims and helps raise awareness in the community of this terrible crime.

 We raised $600 which members of the DV forum decided to use to purchase a banner with the message "Not Silent. Not Violent. The Southern Highlands says no to violence against women."

The meaning of White Ribbon Day, which I`m sure Member`s already know, is to urge men to speak out against violence against women. It was originally the brainchild of a handful of Canadian men in 1991 following the massacre of fourteen women in Montreal. Since then it has grown in popularity and gained support from more and more men and women who are speaking out against this violence.

The Southern Highlands DV Forum engaged the female inmates in the print-making department at Berrima Jail to make the banner. There is an irony in that, of course, Mr Speaker because statistics tell us that over one-third or 39.9% of Australian women report experiencing at least one incident of physical violence or sexual violence since the age of 15.

SOURCE: A national survey of 16,500 Australian adults (18 and over).
PUBLICATION: ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) (2006) Personal Safety Survey Australia. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics (Cat. 4906.0).

It wouldn`t come as a surprise to learn that many female prisoners in Berrima Jail have been victims themselves of domestic violence at some time in their lives. The banner will be displayed on the main road between Bowral and Moss Vale in the grounds of Chevalier College. While it was originally planned to display the banner across the main street in Bowral, the cost of paying for public liability insurance was prohibitive - but that`s a discussion for another time.

The community has thrown its weight behind White Ribbon Day and many businesses across the Highlands, including my office, are displaying posters bearing the same message as the banner. Curves, Contours, Centrelink, the library, Community Health, Mission Australia, Campbell Page and Anglicare are a few which have set up window displays to promote White Ribbon Day. Businesses were keen to participate to help spread the word that violence against women and children is not acceptable.

Members of the local Liquor Accord, which includes pubs and clubs in the area, have all been issued with information packs, coasters and posters. The link between alcohol and domestic violence has long been recognised and where better to spread the message of White Ribbon Day than in the venues that provide alcohol.

Detective Inspector and Crime Manager, Ward Hansen of the Goulburn Local Area Command will be speaking to radio announcer, Graham Day on local radio, 2ST. Inspector Hansen`s wife, Felicity Hansen is also a Police Officer and works with victims of domestic violence. As a family they are strongly committed to raising the awareness of this insidious crime.

 No area in NSW - or Australia - is free from domestic violence. It doesn`t matter what the postcode is, what the professions are, how big the house is, or what make of car is driven. It lives and thrives amongst us and will continue to do so until everyone gets the White Ribbon Day message that violence against women and children is not acceptable.

 The Southern Highlands Domestic Violence Forum is helping to make that very clear and I am proud that our fundraising efforts have contributed towards this message.