Hobsons Bay council has shown its support for women experiencing violence at the hands of men, by writing to Premier Jacinta Allen, calling for urgent action.
In a council meeting on Tuesday, May 14, councillor Pamela Sutton- Legaud said she would like to propose a matter of urgency to respond to “the recent terrible violence against women”.
“I am asking that council officers write to the premier of Victoria, asking for urgent action to reduce the number of women killed by violence each day,” she said.
It also asks council officers to produce a report on effective measures taken by council in the past four years, and plan future action to reduce the impact of violence against women in Hobsons Bay, as well as identifying how council has responded as a signatory to the 2030 Western Region strategy to prevent violence against women.
Cr Sutton-Legaud said although it is an unusual situation to bring up as a matter of urgent business, she felt it necessary given the recent violence in the country, the world and Hobsons Bay.
“I felt it was important that we raised this as a council issue as we are the body closest to the community in terms of government,” she said.
Cr Sutton-Legaud briefly mentioned her own experience with violence against women, sharing how her mother and sisters were affected by her father’s “frustration“.
“At the time there was no one he could talk to about his worries, about his three young daughters, his challenges finding work, his problems with alcohol, which was why he took that frustration out on my mother,” she said.
“Women make up 50 per cent of Hobson Bay’s base population, and 50 per cent of them say they do not feel safe walking down the street at night, and we live in a very safe community compared with many others.
“If we want a world where no women die through violence, we need to change.”
Cr Daria Kellander said Ms Allen is the best person in a position of power to implement some form of policy change.
“I know way too many women who have been victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and rape, both by men who are known to them and unknown to them and it has has a lifelong impact on these women,” she said.
“So I’m supporting this motion for them.”
Jennifer Pittorino
