The parliamentary inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violence will ask questions of Google and Facebook as well as organisations representing the male victims of family violence as it continues its program of public hearings. The Committee is gathering further evidence to inform both its recommendations and the development of the next National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children.
Starting on Friday 13 November and continuing into the following week, the House Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee will hear from government agencies, community organisations, and others about issues including financial abuse and women’s economic independence, technology facilitated abuse, the impact of family violence on children and young people, and the important role of the family and domestic violence specialist workforce.
The hearings will include roundtable sessions with unions representing health and service workers; national charities; and technology companies Google and Facebook, along with the eSafety Commissioner. The Committee will also hear from organisations representing male victims of family violence.
In addition to the public hearings, the Committee will this week begin hearing from individuals in closed sessions. These private hearings will allow the Committee to hear about individuals’ direct experiences, and their suggestions for better preventing and responding to family, domestic, and sexual violence.
Chair of the Committee, Mr Andrew Wallace MP, said the extensive program of hearings reflected the scale and complexity of the challenge of addressing family, domestic, and sexual violence.
‘We know that there are many facets to family, domestic and sexual violence, and a comprehensive response will require all sectors of society to work together, online and offline. It is important that the Committee hears a full range of views about where and how this violence occurs, and what can be done to prevent violence in our community.’
In order to ensure public safety during the COVID-19 situation, witnesses will participate in the hearings remotely, via videoconference and teleconference. Interested members of the public are invited to watch or listen to the live broadcast, available at aph.gov.au/live.
Public hearing details
Date: Friday, 13 November 2020
Time: 8.30am to 3.00pm
Location: Via teleconference
Date: Monday, 16 November 2020
Time: 8.45am to 3.15pm
Location: Via videoconference
Date: Tuesday, 17 November 2020
Time: 8.45am to 3.15pm
Location: Via videoconference
Date: Wednesday, 18 November 2020
Time: 8.45am to 5.00pm
Location: Via videoconference
Date: Thursday, 19 November 2020
Time: 8.45am to 3.15pm
Location: Via videoconference
Public hearing programs are available on the inquiry website.
Media inquiries
Office of Mr Andrew Wallace, Chair of Committee
Mr Simon Thwaites
Simon.Thwaites@aph.gov.au
0439 972 667
For background information
Committee Secretariat
02 6277 2358
spla.reps@aph.gov.au
