In the midst of an epidemic of violence against women, an ambitious new plan gives us hope

National cabinet’s bold new plan – and funding – to confront sources of domestic and family violence are welcome, writes Prof Michael Salter. Photograph: FanPro/Getty Images

National cabinet met today to announce a tectonic shift in Australia’s approach to tackling violence against women and children. In the midst of an epidemic of violence – at a time when we could all do with some hope – the vision of state, territory and commonwealth leaders around a table armed with new thinking and a shared vision for tackling gender-based violence is a welcome one.

After a 10-year national primary prevention strategy, bolstered by $300m in commonwealth funds, rates of intimate partner homicide have increased by a third in 2024. Sexual assault reports have climbed unabated for years and intimate partner violence rates in populous states such as New South Wales are on an upward trend.