This evening I gave a Community Recognition Statement bringing to the attention of the Parliament the Reclaim the Night March in Lake Macquarie. This is what I said:



Sixty-one Australian women and twenty-one Australian children have been killed through violence this year.

No woman is ever to blame for male violence against her.

At the end of last month I proudly marched with hundreds of women, men and children to take a stand on violence against women and children in this years Reclaim the Night march on the Esplanade at Warners Bay, in my electorate of Charlestown.

Reclaim the Night is a global movement for womens rights, calling for women to be free from sexual violence and abuse.

This years march sounded the alarm on the increasing rate of assaults against women in the Hunter Region. We looked forward to a society in which women can feel safe, and in which there is justice for survivors of violence.

On behalf of my local community I express thanks to Jess Salvador and the team for organising this years march.