Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee and her deputy Leanne Castley have pledged to make women’s lives safer and healthier. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
The Canberra Liberals will establish specialised domestic and family violence fast response units and legislate a standalone criminal offence for coercive control if they form government after the 19 October election.
They also have pledged to establish a dedicated endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic at the Canberra Hospital.
These are among a range of initiatives to boost women’s health and wellbeing.
The Liberals have also pledged to allocate all revenue from the Safer Families Levy towards frontline domestic and family violence services and a $875,000 funding commitment for Fearless Women, which provides outreach and support services to girls and young women.
They will also boost funding to support women returning to work, including work placement and training.
Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee said a government she leads would fund two DFV fast response units comprising three police officers, three medical personnel and three social workers. They would operate similar to the current PACER program that responds to mental health crises in the community.
“Domestic and family violence is a scourge in our society and a Canberra Liberals government will deliver more support where it is needed most – on our frontline – to ensure that we do everything we can to support those that need it most,” she said.
“It is also shameful that revenue received from the Safer Families Levy does not go directly towards frontline domestic violence and family violence, but under a Canberra Liberals government, it will.”
Deputy Opposition Leader and Shadow Minister for Health and the Prevention of Domestic Violence Leanne Castley said it was disappointing that Labor and the Greens voted down her bill to criminalise coercive control.
“As a government, we will make the necessary legislative changes to bring the ACT in line with other jurisdictions who have made coercive control a standalone criminal offence,” Ms Castley said.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said much of the Liberals’ DFV announcement included things that were already in train and funded in the last Budget but he welcomed any bipartisanship on this issue.
Ms Castley added that regarding women’s health, the Labor-Greens government had dropped the ball when it comes to providing necessary support for women in the ACT suffering from endometriosis.
Canberra Health Services already runs the Canberra Endometriosis Centre for teenagers and adults with period pain, pelvic pain and endometriosis at the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, but Ms Castley said facilities were fragmented and inadequate.
“In the ACT, there are thousands of women who live with endometriosis, adenomyosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome and/or infertility,” she said.
“The Canberra Liberals know how challenging it is for women in the ACT with endometriosis who have to travel interstate for treatment and, as a result, we will establish a truly multidisciplinary endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic at the Canberra Hospital.”
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said there already was a specialist clinic at Canberra Hospital and the government was recruiting more specialists for that service.
“There is a shortage of gynaecological specialists across Australia, so establishing more full-time equivalent positions is not going to be helpful,” she said.
“What we need is to recruit and retain those gynaecologists and we’re already doing that.”
That would resolve some of the wait-time issues, she said. But advice from CHS was that almost all Category 1 patients were treated on time.
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