Mrs SALLY QUINNELL (Camden) (20:50): I focus on a very important event in our communities. Reclaim the Night is a movement against sexual violence and violence against women. Reclaim the Night began in the mid 1970s as coordinated women's marches against sexual harassment and rape. The first Reclaim the Night march was in 1977 in Leeds in the United Kingdom. Inspired by similar marches in West Germany, the Leeds march was partially in response to the Yorkshire Ripper murders and the police reaction, which was to tell women they should not go out at night unless necessary. These early Reclaim the Night marches fought for a woman's right to walk without fear at night. They made it clear that women should not be restricted or blamed because of men's violence.

People march today because they believe everyone has the right to feel safe, be safe and to show a united front against violence of all kinds. On Thursday 26 October I had the privilege to attend the first local Reclaim the Night rally in the Narellan Library forecourt, organised by the Camden-Wollondilly Domestic Violence Committee. The night was hosted by Ally Redondo from C91.3 and included drummergirl, a drumming troupe where everyone can join in the fun; singing from Elina R-T Music; food; drinks; resources; and a torch for everyone attending. It was fantastic to attend and see so many people from the community coming together and standing united to make it clear that violence against women and children is unacceptable. It was a freezing cold and wet night but and people came anyway.

In New South Wales and across Australia domestic violence and violence against women is an epidemic. Domestic violence, sexual harassment and violence against women are unacceptable. We must address the pervasive issue of domestic and family violence, along with sexual harassment. It is essential that we create an environment where everyone, regardless of their identity, feels safe when they step outside their homes. Initiatives like the Reclaim the Night movement serve as a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to reclaim our streets from fear and violence. As we head into the festive season, we all need to be reminded that Christmas is a time when family violence spikes, due to several factors. Research published in the International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy suggests that this spike is because of increased contact between victim and perpetrator, due to more time spent at home and family events, as well as increased consumption of alcohol and high levels of financial stress experienced by families.

It is through collaborative efforts that we can break the cycle of violence and harassment. Our commitment to creating safe spaces must be unwavering, not only in words but also in action. Let us strive to make all communities, as well as our local Camden community, a shining example of a place where individuals can move freely, unburdened by the fear of harm or harassment. Together we can build a society where every person, irrespective of their background, can reclaim the night with confidence and security. If anyone would like to be an advocate for change, the Camden-Wollondilly Domestic Violence Committee is holding a SayNO2DV breakfast on Wednesday 29 November. The breakfast will showcase the value of sports clubs standing up to say no to Domestic Violence. I encourage anyone interested to purchase tickets for this important event.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women this year will be held this Saturday 5 November. It marks the launch of the UNiTE campaign, an initiative of 16 days of activism. The 2023 campaign, Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women & Girls, will call on citizens to show how much they care about ending violence against women and girls and call on governments like this one worldwide to share how they are investing in gender-based violence protection. Domestic violence is unacceptable in all forms and there is no excuse for this kind of behaviour. The statistics are alarming and we can all do more to help prevent violence against women and children. I encourage everyone in the community to think about how they can become an ally to end violence against women and children for good. I call out to anyone who needs help to seek help. They are always welcome in my office.