Every Australian deserves to live free from violence. Domestic violence is the leading cause of serious injury, disability, and death for women in Australia aged between 14 and 45. On average, one woman a week is killed by her current or former partner.  

One in four women have experienced family violence and one in five women have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15. High profile reports of rape in recent months have shown how our justice system fails to protect victims of sexual violence. And rates of sexual assault have increased during the Liberals’ time in Government. 

Labor will provide the national leadership and investment needed to help end family, domestic and sexual violence, starting with:  

• Establishing a new Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Commissioner to act as a strong voice for victim-survivors.  
• Funding 500 new community sector workers to support women in crisis. 
• Investing $77 million to help make sure all Australian school students are able to access high quality, age-appropriate consent and respectful relationships education. 
• Working with states and territories to strengthen and harmonise laws relating to sexual assault and consent. 
• Legislating 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave. 
• Delivering a separate national plan for First Nations people to end violence against women and family violence. 
• Support justice reinvestment in First Nations communities with a $79m investment to reduce incarceration rates, including early intervention to reduce family violence. 

We will also deliver more safe and affordable housing, helping women and children fleeing violence. 

• $1.6 billion will be spent to build 4000 new social housing properties specifically allocated for women and children fleeing domestic and family violence.   
• $100 million will be allocated for crisis and transitional housing options for women and children fleeing domestic and family violence, and older women on low incomes who are at risk of homelessness. 

Labor will take real action to end sexual harassment at work and we’ll fully implement all 55 Respect@Work recommendations, including: 

• Legislating a positive duty on employers to stamp out sexual harassment. 
• Investing $24 million to properly fund Working Women’s Centers in every Australian state and territory. 
• Setting up a one-stop-shop for information on victims rights and referrals. 
• Supporting victims of historical workplace sexual harassment. 

Related policies

• Women's Safety at Work (Respect@Work)
• 500 Community Workers to Help Women Fleeing Domestic Violence
• Consent and respectful relationships
• Strengthening Access to Justice