Combating violence against women and children in Bonner remains one of the Morrison Government’s top priorities, as part of its plan to keep Australians safe.

The Morrison Government is proud to be making the largest ever Commonwealth investment of $328 million for prevention and frontline services through the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022.

“The Morrison Government’s first priority is to keep Australians safe. That’s why we are contributing a record amount to fund prevention, response and recovery initiatives,” Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said.

“Our Government has zero tolerance for violence against women and children. This announcement brings Commonwealth investment in this space since 2013 to over $840 million,” he said.

The Morrison Government will develop Australia’s first national prevention strategy to stop domestic and family violence and sexual assault, and continue its work to change the attitudes and beliefs that can lead to violence.

“To stop violence against women, we need to counter the culture of disrespect towards women. That’s why we are investing so heavily in prevention,” Mr Vasta said.

Sadly, one in six women have experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or former partner since the age of 15. This figure increases to nearly one in four women when violence by boyfriends, girlfriends and dates is included.

Minister for Women, the Hon Kelly O’Dwyer MP, said all women and children have the right to feel safe, and to feel supported to seek help when they need it.

“Whether it’s at home, in the workplace, in our communities or online, all women and children deserve to be safe,” Ms O’Dwyer said.

Summary of measures:

• $82 million for frontline services
• $68 million for prevention strategies
• $35 million in support and prevention measures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities funded under the Indigenous Advancement Strategy.
• $78 million to provide safe places for people impacted by domestic and family violence.
• $62 million to support 1800RESPECT

Our Government has taken strong action already to protect women and children, including:

• introducing a minimum standard for domestic violence leave for the very first time;
• banning the direct cross-examination of women by their alleged perpetrator during family law proceedings;
• extending early release of superannuation on compassionate grounds to victims of family and domestic violence;
• expanding Good Shepherd Microfinance’s No Interest Loan Scheme to 45,000 women experiencing family and domestic violence;
• providing over 7,046 visas for women and children needing safe refuge through the Women at Risk program;
• extending funding for Specialist Domestic Violence Units and Health Justice Partnerships including funding for additional financial support services;
• funding support for an additional 31,200 families to resolve family law disputes quickly through mediation;
• continuing advertising of the award winning Stop it at the Start campaign;
• further funding 1800 RESPECT, the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service;
• investing an additional $6.7 million in DV alert;
• prioritising women and children who are escaping family violence in the $7.8 billion housing and homelessness agreement; and
• establishing the eSafety Commissioner in 2017, expanding the scope of the Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner.

The Liberal National Government will support clinical trials to test the effectiveness of a world-first malaria vaccine in an attempt to globally eradicate the deadly disease.

Malaria is a condition that affects over two hundred million people each year, including thousands of Australians who acquire it while traveling.

Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said Rotary clubs nationally and throughout Bonner have been fundraising for the Malaria Vaccine Project through a campaign known as Rotary Against Malaria.

“Rotary clubs have raised $500,000 and the Government will match this with funding of $500,000 towards the Malaria Vaccine Project, which has developed a new novel vaccine for the disease,” Mr Vasta said.

“The next stage of the Malaria Vaccine Project is to conduct more extensive clinical trials in Australia that has the potential to save millions of lives.”

Last year 403 Australian cases of overseas-acquired malaria were reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.

Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said funding will be provided to Griffith University through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to undertake clinical trials to test the effectiveness of the new malaria vaccine PlasProtect©.

“There have been many research efforts to control malaria through vaccine development, but they tend to be only partially effective,” Minister Hunt said.

“This new approach will differ by using the entire malaria parasite to develop the vaccine and holds great promise.”

“It has proven highly effective in animal trials and has been shown to be safe in humans, with the next step to undertake human clinical trials,” Minister Hunt said.

Over 450,000 people, mostly children and pregnant women, die each year of malaria.

Malaria is caused by an infection with malaria parasites, and is generally characterised by fever, shivering headaches and chills in the uncomplicated form.

Some population groups are at considerably higher risk of contracting malaria, and developing severe disease, than others.

These include infants, children under five years of age, pregnant women and patients with low levels of immunity.

According to the latest World malaria report 2018, there were 219 million cases of malaria in 2017, up from 217 million cases in 2016.

In addition to this latest funding, since 2016 more than $52 million has been provided to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to support research into malaria.