MALCOLM Turnbull will use his first major announcement as Prime Minister today to reveal his plans to combat Australia’s domestic violence problem, according to reports.
He is expected to announce a $40 million package which will include money to place lawyers at hospitals to give free advice and at least $15 million to better train hospital staff to recognise domestic violence, the Daily Telegraph reports.
The announcement, expected later today, comes as a NSW man is due to face court over the killing of his 12-year-old stepdaughter, who was found dead in her bed in an alleged domestic dispute yesterday.
She is one of three people killed in family-related incidents this week alone.
“Real men don’t hit women,” Mr Turnbull told Channel Nine’s Today show earlier this week, flagging fresh government action.
“The issue of family violence, or domestic violence as it’s often called, which is just violence against women … is an enormous one. It has been overlooked, to some extent ignored, for far too long. We have to have, we must have, zero tolerance for it.”
Mr Turnbull will partner with Australian of the Year and domestic violence victim-turned campaigner Rosie Batty for the announcment, Fairfax reports.
As part of the renewed effort, fitting high-risk offenders with GPS trackers and the installation of panic alarms for vulnerable women also look to become government initiatives.
The announcement also coincides with the launch of Ms Batty’s book, in which she details her experience at the hands of her ex-husband, who eventually killed their son Luke during cricket practice after years of abuse.
She met with Mr Turnbull in Canberra before he became Prime Minister.
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