COAG must reinstate funding for domestic violence services

Acting Greens Leader Larissa Waters says state and territory leaders have the power and responsibility to do much more than talk about how to address domestic violence at today’s COAG meeting.

“For all the talk, families need to see some action. Lives are depending on it,” said Senator Waters.

“The COAG leaders should be demanding Tony Abbott show them the money.

The Abbott Government must take note of the Essential Research poll released today showing 74 per cent of Australians believe domestic violence is as or more threatening than terrorism.

"While the community is taking domestic violence seriously, the Abbott Government has still failed to reverse its cuts to domestic violence services," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson for women, said.

The Greens will join with 'Stop Taxing My Period' campaign organiser Subeta Vimalarajah in Sydney on Wednesday to call on the NSW Government to hurry up and get on board with ending the tampon tax.

Ms Vimalarajah's online petition topped 100,000 signatures over the long weekend but the NSW Government is still refusing to join other states in agreeing the tax should be scrapped.

The Australian Greens have long called for domestic violence leave and are disappointed at the big parties' failure to back the ACTU's proposal.

Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson for women, said:

"It's deeply disappointing that both big parties appear to be rejecting the ACTU's proposal for domestic violence leave, championed by our brave, determined Australian of the Year, Rosie Batty.

"While Bill Shorten has made some noncommittal remarks, Labor is failing to back the desperately needed proposal.

The Australian Greens will keep up the pressure in the federal Parliament to make sure the tampon tax is removed, after Treasurer Hockey's commitment last night to raise this matter with the states. 

"GST should have never applied to tampons and pads in the first place," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens spokesperson for women, said.

Federal cuts to legal assistance funding will undermine efforts to tackle domestic violence, say the Australian Greens.