Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin says ‘long way to go’ in tackling DV scourge

Australian men must become greater participants in the fight against violence against women, the woman tasked with phasing the scourge out in a generation has warned.

In the first annual report card for the government’s 10-year plan, Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin has warned there is still a long way to go, but said she was “hopeful” the target could be met.

In an address to the National Press Club, she said governments needed to better integrate lived experience in their policies, for men to be better engaged, and for a holistic approach to building capacity and capability to “respond to the crisis”.

She said language was “important” if progress was to be made, noting the national plan uses the word “men” 129 times.

“It uses the word “women” 543 times,” she said.

“Four times more than we talk about men.

“We need to be talking with and about men more.”

In the first report, to be handed to Parliament later on Wednesday, the commission called for men to “be a part of every aspect of ending violence”, and for governments to support efforts to “redefine masculinity and engage men effectively”.

The commission also found that while governments had invested “significant public funds” to address domestic, family and sexual violence, services and systems remain “overwhelmed by community need”.

According to the Red Heart Campaign, 55 women have died at the hands of violent men so far this year.

Earlier, Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Justine Elliott told the parliament that in that context, it was “difficult to reconcile that there has been progress towards ending this national crisis”.

But, she said there was a silver lining.

“When we look at the long-term picture, we can see significant improvements in community attitudes that reject and challenge this violence. More men and women stand with us today than ever before,” she said.

“I am proud to be part of a government that is taking action on this issue. The Albanese Government is absolutely committed to achieving our shared vision of ending violence against women and children in one generation.

“All of us have to do more — all of us must do better.”

It was a sentiment shared by deputy opposition leader Sussan Ley, who said while strides had been made to take women forward, like the narrowing of the gender pay gap, progress was at “risk” as misogyny continued to thrive.

“We risk a regression as social media companies profit off algorithms that are conditioning our kids with toxic views, we risk a regression as violent pornography and concerning practices like choking are normalised and damaging the brains of our next generation,” she said.

But a group of independent female crossbenchers say politicians in both major parties can’t be seen to be genuine campaigners for an end to violence against women until there is a significant change to how they behave in Parliament House.

As new legislation is set to be introduced that would establish financial penalties for parliamentarians’ bad behaviour outside of the chambers, Kylea Tink, Allegra Spender, Sophie Scamps and Zali Steggall expressed dismay at the standard of conduct inside.

“Not only do we need a Stop It At The Start campaign, we need a ‘stop it at the top’ campaign,” Dr Scamps said.

“It’s the leaders that need to be role modelling the correct behaviour, and it starts with respect.”