Ms LYLEA McMAHON: I direct my question to the Minister for Community Services. What is the latest information on how the Government is tackling domestic violence against women and children?

Ms LINDA BURNEY: Domestic violence is a shocking reality in all our communities. Domestic violence affects one in three women in Australia. It is the most likely form of preventable deaths for women under the age of 45, and that is a breathtaking but blunt reality. It is the primary issue in child protection reports in New South Wales and women and children fleeing domestic violence form the largest group of homeless people in our country. These are stark facts. The consequences are magnified in the Aboriginal community, with Koori women six times more likely to be victims of domestic violence and to suffer more serious injuries.

Mr Ray Williams: Then why didn't you do something about the "Breaking the Silence" report?

Ms LINDA BURNEY: I thank the member for Hawkesbury for that interjection. A direct consequence of this is the significant overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in home care—31 per cent. The Government is committed to changing the statistics. Today I am proud to inform the House about Tackling Violence, a grassroots program that works with local communities and taps into the sport that has become a rallying point for many rural communities. In the case of tackling domestic violence that is rugby league. The Government has put more than $200,000 into Tackling Violence. It is underway in six regional rugby league clubs. I am proud to see in the public gallery today a whole row taken up by senior and respected indigenous Australians from sport, the media, women's services and many other aspects of life. The six teams involved in this program are the Tingha Tigers, near Inverell, and captained by Nathan Blacklock.

The SPEAKER: Hear! Hear!

Ms LINDA BURNEY: In your community, Mr Speaker, and you were there at the launch. The others are the Lower Clarence Magpies at Maclean; Dubbo CYMS; Dubbo Macquarie Raiders, captained by David Peachey, who joins us in the gallery today; the Windsor Wolves, with Dick Prior and Craig Trindall, who are also with us today; and the Bay and Basin Club near Nowra. These clubs are in communities with significant Aboriginal populations and high levels of domestic violence. They are also communities with strong leaders who are committed to change. I am really sorry to interrupt members opposite. This is an important subject.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Murray-Darling will cease interjecting.

Ms LINDA BURNEY: Importantly, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal players are all on board. This is the commitment that those players have made. They have signed a code of conduct based on non-violence. They understand they will be penalised and stood down should they break that code. They wear jerseys with the Tackling Violence logo and promote the program throughout the season. Players, coaches and club officials are taking part in workshops on domestic violence led by one of league's greats, Larry Corowa—better known as the Black Flash—who is with us today, and Dixie Gordon, of Mudgin-Gal Aboriginal Women's Corporation, who also joins us today. These workshops are tough and they are confronting. They lay down the rules and describe what domestic violence is. It is not just about hitting people; it is also about breaking things around them. It is about psychological pressure as well.

The players are also taking part in a local television advertising campaign, which was launched today, featuring all six teams proudly taking a stand against domestic violence. It is a brave stand. There are also workshops for players' wives and girlfriends and, importantly, education for young people through schools. Women's groups and men's groups are growing out of this program. The program's success lies in partnerships. It relies on relationships and it relies, most importantly, on the community owning and driving this process. Our partners are the Australian Rugby League, the National Rugby League, Mudgin-Gal Aboriginal Women's Corporation, NITV, through the Barefoot Rugby League Show—and we have representatives of that show here today as well—and all the clubs and communities supporting our teams. It is locally owned and locally driven, and that will be the success of it. Several government agencies are also partners—the Department of Women, the Department of Sport and Recreation, the Attorney General's Department, the Department of Community Services and the Premier's department.

I acknowledge a member of our Tackling Violence team, Nathan Blacklock. As all members know, Nathan is the captain of the Tingha Tigers. He is not only a superb rugby league player but also a Department of Community Services caseworker. Last week I received an email from a community member who heard Nathan speak. That email read:

Nathan was obviously very proud of what DOCS is trying to achieve in Aboriginal communities. I want to pass on my congratulations to the Department for managing to secure the services of such a wonderful, humble role model.

I finish with a quote from David Peachey, a football great and, as I said earlier, captain of the Dubbo Macquarie Raiders.

Ms Kristina Keneally: He also played for the Rabbitohs.

Ms LINDA BURNEY: That is true.

Mr Barry Collier: And the Sharks.

Ms LINDA BURNEY: And the Sharks. I finish with a serious point. David said this:

League is in the bloodlines of Koori people in New South Wales. As footy players we are role models. We must use our popularity to get the message across that domestic violence is a serious crime.

That is it: it is a serious crime. It affects children for the rest of their lives if they grow up in a home with domestic violence. It affects the way they learn to love, it affects the way they learn to relate and it affects the way they learn to trust. Children are at the heart of this program. Tackling Violence is helping to make New South Wales families safe and strong. It is the first year the program has run and we look forward to seeing it go from strength to strength. Once again I say thank you to our partners for joining us today.

Question time concluded at 3.16 p.m.