Ms LYLEA McMAHON: My question is directed to the Minister for Women. What action is the Government taking to support and protect women who have been victims of domestic violence?

Ms VERITY FIRTH: Today is White Ribbon Day—the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women—and a day for everyone to think about the consequences of domestic violence. I am pleased to see so many members on both sides of the House wearing white ribbons and wristbands today. The New South Wales Government is a strong supporter of White Ribbon Day and I am proud that the Premier is a White Ribbon Day ambassador. This morning the Premier, the Deputy Premier and I took the opportunity to attend a White Ribbon Day event in Martin Place to sell ribbons. I understand other members were present as well. I know the member for Macquarie Fields was on a bike at one time and I think the member for Manly also participated in a bike event. It was a really good display of bipartisan support for this incredibly important issue.

Since 2007 the Government has provided $130,000 in funding to the White Ribbon Day Foundation to assist it in its activities to eliminate violence against women. The Rees Government knows the terrible damage domestic violence wreaks on women and children and its emotional, social and financial costs on families and communities. We are working to reduce violence in our community, investing $40 million in improving responses—

The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Murray-Darling to order for the second time.

Ms VERITY FIRTH: We are investing $40 million of new funding—

The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Murray-Darling to order for the third time.

Ms VERITY FIRTH: —to improve responses to domestic violence across government agencies and to make sure that we provide the most effective support for victims.

Mr John Williams: In Wilcannia?

Ms VERITY FIRTH: Yes, this will include that. The Violence Prevention Coordination Unit, located within the Office for Women's Policy, Department of Premier and Cabinet, is leading the development of policy aimed at reducing domestic violence. We are also rolling out five key projects, including Staying Home Leaving Violence, the Domestic Violence Integrated Court Model and the Domestic Violence Risk Assessment Tool. The Staying Home Leaving Violence project is particularly interesting. Instead of the victim being forced to leave her family home—to flee the home with her children—the perpetrator is forced to leave the home, leaving the victim in the home. I am sorry that the Opposition does not think this is interesting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The House will come to order.

Ms VERITY FIRTH: I deliberately started my answer with a pledge of the bipartisan commitment this House shares to preventing domestic violence in the community. These projects are central to the Government's commitment to prevent domestic violence, to intervene at the earliest possible time, to effectively support women and families, and to hold offenders accountable for their actions. Our strategy is statewide and includes a network of nine senior regional coordinators in the New South Wales Police Force. These regional coordinators are second only in command to the regional commanders, and provide a real boost to the power of the police force. The police force is also rolling out 40 new domestic violence specialists to be located around the State to help with front-line services.

Collaboration with the non-government sector is being enhanced through the new expert Premier's Advisory Council on Preventing Violence against Women—where women who are very expert in this area sit and deliver their advice to the Premier and to me directly, which has been very useful—and through the delivery of more than $2.9 million in new funding each year to support domestic and family violence partnership projects with non-government organisations. The Government recognises the expertise of the community sector in delivering crucial services to women and children who experience violence. I am pleased to advise the House that the second round of the new $2.9 million Domestic and Family Violence NGO Grants Program will be opened today for expressions of interest. I hope members will ensure that their local organisations are aware of this program.

This is significant new funding targeted to non-government organisations that deliver front-line domestic violence services such as women's shelters, health and accommodation services, court assistance and legal advice. These crucial services assist women to seek justice in the court system for themselves and their children when they have had to flee their homes and help repair the physical and psychological damage that violence has caused them. A call for expressions of interest for funding will be posted on the Office for Women's policy website this afternoon and will be sent to all New South Wales peak women's organisations. Advertisements calling for expressions of interest will be lodged in metropolitan and rural press and the Koori Times from next week. From the funds, $900,000 has been quarantined for Aboriginal-specific programs. This is vitally important as Aboriginal women have significantly higher rates of victimisation for domestic and family violence incidences than the mainstream population.

We currently support close to 80 local domestic violence committees in running community events on White Ribbon Day and also during the 16 Days of Activism to Stop Violence Against Women. These events are aimed at raising community awareness that violence against women is not on. Community groups in Griffith, Port Macquarie, Tumut and Blacktown are using their grants in partnership with police to promote antiviolence messages in local pubs and clubs. Beer coasters with slogans such as "Shout at the pub, not at home" and "Put your glass down, not your missus" are being placed under drinks and pubs have hung "Expect Respect" posters in their bars. Yesterday I attended an event at the Coles supermarket in Mount Druitt and was issued with a shopper docket with the "Expect Respect" slogan printed on it. The docket also has the phone number of the domestic violence hotline so that women who are in need can pocket the docket and take it home safely for when they may need it. During the campaign 1.5 million dockets will be distributed, getting the message through to shoppers.

These sorts of initiatives are inspirational; they are simple and effective and speak to people going about their everyday business. In Kempsey a family day will be held with guest speakers and live music; the Sutherland committee will set up an information store in the local shopping centre and deliver information packs; the inner west committee is promoting community awareness through an information day at the Bunnings hardware store, with police, local footballers and service providers; and in Narrabri local hairdressers will promote an antiviolence message in their salons and in conversations with their customers. The Government's message for White Ribbon Day, the 16 days campaign and for all those who perpetuate or condone violence against women is clear: No, never, not on.