Topics: Minister Plibersek discusses the launch of Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices; Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, President Herzog visit.
ISABELLA HIGGINS: Minister, good morning and thanks very much for your time on AM to discuss this plan.
TANYA PLIBERSEK, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: Pleasure to be with you.
HIGGINS: The figures are stark. Indigenous women 27 times more likely than non-indigenous women to be hospitalised due to family violence. This increases to 41 times more likely in regional and very remote communities. This is a major new investment, but what sort of difference will it make when we know that the need is so great?
MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Well, this report is a very important step. It comes after many years of campaigning by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and communities for a plan of their own. It's significant because it's supported by every state and territory, as well as the Commonwealth government. It says that all of us have a role to play in reducing the shocking rates of violence against Indigenous women. And it comes, as you say, with significant extra funding. So, this plan comes with almost $220 million of extra funding. That builds on $260 million that we released a couple of years ago in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific plan. It comes on top of an extra $367 million in increase for family violence prevention legal services and big programs like our Leaving Violence Payment, which has now helped ten and a half thousand people. This extends the regional trials of that program, which have been particularly good in some of those remote locations, helping women who feel like they don't have any options leave violent relationships.
HIGGINS: This plan is focused on investing in Aboriginal Community Controlled health organisations. But how do you make sure this support reaches those in need, especially in those very remote areas where there's often limited, if any, services or services that are sometimes only open during the day or a couple of days a week?
MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Well, I think the report makes two really important points. It says that solutions that are locally designed, locally driven, locally staffed, locally delivered, are going to make the greatest difference in the remote communities in particular. And so, yes, a substantial amount of this funding will go out through a network of around 40 Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations around the country. But it also makes the point, the report also makes the point that our mainstream services have to adapt so that they are, they're better for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families and communities, so that our mainstream services like health, like policing, like justice, actually recognise some of the ways that they've been letting down these communities.
HIGGINS: Many Indigenous women who experience violence also experience racism, sometimes experience racism while trying to access services. Do you support calls from some First Nations leaders to expand the Royal Commission into Anti Semitism to cover all forms of racism?
MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Well, the recent terrorist attack in Perth has led to enormous fear and anxiety, I know, amongst many Aboriginal people and in Aboriginal communities. But this comes on top of years now of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people telling us that racism against them is increasing, that they're experiencing more racism and that they're more frightened. So, we absolutely need to address that. The Royal Commission terms of reference already allow the Commissioner to look at best practice approaches to de-radicalisation and strengthening social cohesion, and the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, is encouraging people, in particular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, to put in submissions about racism and hatred to the Royal Commission.
HIGGINS: And, Minister, I might just turn your attention to one other issue. Protests on the street of Sydney last night over Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit. From what you've seen and heard, do you think the police response has been appropriate?
MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Look, I know that the visit is contentious. It has invited a range of views, including within the Jewish community, there's a diversity of views. I support the right to peacefully protest, but people do need to follow the law when they're doing that and they do need to follow police instruction. I don't want to comment on individual incidents because I think, you know, there needs to be any, there needs to be investigation of any claims that are made in that respect. But can I just urge people to turn down the temperature. This visit has come because we've had the worst terrorist attack on Australian soil. Fifteen people have died. There is a grieving community. We need to let that community grieve and receive comfort where it can.
HIGGINS: Minister for Social Affairs, Tanya Plibersek, thank you very much for joining us on AM this morning.
MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Thank you.
