Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison reacts while speaking during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on March 23, 2021. (MICK TSIKAS / AAP IMAGE VIA AP)
CANBERRA – The Australian government will convene a national summit to address violence against women.
Nine Entertainment newspaper reported on Saturday that Prime Minister Scott Morrison will invite community leaders, state governments and experts to the summit, which will create a national plan to prevent violence against women.
PM Scott Morrison faces criticism of his handling of the rape and sexual assault crisis that has engulfed the federal govt
It comes as Morrison faces criticism of his handling of the rape and sexual assault crisis that has engulfed the federal government.
The prime minister is expected to announce a major reshuffle of his ministry within days that will demote Attorney-General Christian Porter and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds – both of whom have taken medical leave after being caught up in the crisis, according to local media's report.
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The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has reported that it is expected Michaelia Cash, the minister for employment, will take over as attorney-general and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton as defence minister.
The summit, which will be convened within months, will replicate the October 2018 Council of Australian Governments National Summit on Reducing Violence Against Women and their Children, which led to a 328 million Australian dollars (US$250 million) in funding to prevent domestic violence.
Social Services Minister Anne Ruston, a proponent of the summit, told a Senate hearing on Thursday that it was initially meant to take place in May 2020 but was postponed by the coronavirus pandemic.
"There was actually a summit planned for May 2020 as part of the commencement of the consultation plan and of course was not able to proceed," she said.