Thanks very much, Ken.

 

Prime Minister, Ministers, ladies and gentlemen.

 

The presence of so many Parliamentary colleagues and other leaders of our community here today testifies to the importance of this issue.

 

As a husband, as a brother, as a father, I enthusiastically participate in this campaign.

 

As the brother of three sisters, as the father of three daughters, I have a duty to do everything I humanly can to build a safe world for the people I love.

 

It is shocking, shocking beyond comprehension, to see that some one in three Australian adult women suffer from sexual or physical violence at some time in their life. Some one in four children see their mother or stepmother suffer violence in the home.

 

These are shocking statistics and we cannot rest until these statistics improve substantially for the better.

 

We cannot rest until we entirely eliminate violence against women.

 

Violence is never, never acceptable as a way of settling disputes. It’s particularly unacceptable when it’s deployed against people who are inherently vulnerable.

 

So, I want to say congratulations to everyone who has signed up as an ambassador.

 

I’m particularly pleased to see so many people in what have been male-dominated institutions signing up for this campaign.

 

It was marvellous to see General Morrison. It’s great that you’re here, Ken, as a former Army Chief.

 

It’s great to see the leaders of our sporting organisations here today.

 

It’s great to see so many indigenous leaders here today.

 

We have all got to do what we can and while there has been progress, while much that was tolerated is now utterly unacceptable, there is so much more that needs to be done.

 

There is so much further that we have to go because we cannot rest until this shameful evil is utterly extirpated from our society.

 

[ends]