CCP Virus Impact Part of Australia’s Domestic Violence Inquiry

Australia's Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston, Parliament House, Canberra, Australia, March 24, 2020.Sam Mooy/Getty Images

The Australian government has issued draft terms of reference for an inquiry into domestic violence, building on its $150 (US $100) million support package launched in March.

Federal family and social services minister Anne Ruston says the level of family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia remains unacceptably high.

“It is truly devastating that women and children continue to be killed by the people who are supposed to care for and protect them. The more light we can shine on this scourge, the better,” Senator Ruston said in a media release on May 30

The proposed terms of reference presented to the parliamentary standing committee on social policy and legal affairs includes the investigation of the impact the Chinese Communist Party virus pandemic on the prevalence of domestic violence and the provision of support services.

The committee will also investigate the way health, housing and women’s economic independence affect the ability of women to escape domestic violence and lessons learned from international experience.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Jan. 16, 2020. Manish Swarup/AP Photo

“We must listen to the experiences of the sector during this unprecedented time and learn how governments, services and the community can better support women and their children, particularly when home is not a safe place to be,” Federal minister for women Marise Payne said in the joint media release with Ruston.

1800Respect offers national 24-hour help for domestic abuse. Lifeline offers national crisis support.

By Colin Brinsden

Epoch Times contributed to this report