Ms. Kylea Tink MP, long-time resident of the North Sydney electorate, a former business leader and a mum of three, has advocated for women in her recent community update as she calls for the Government to address the dire situations so many women and their families still face today.

With the Matilda’s buzz in the last few months, the Matilda’s v Lionesses World Cup semi-final set a new broadcast record, being watched by 11.5 million Australians. Ms. Tink puts forward that although this embrace and celebration of women in sport is a long-time coming and is to be welcomed, many women in our society are still prevented from reaching their potential.

Female poverty, domestic violence and at-risk families are still prevalent today and in her first year of government, Ms. Tink has issued a call to action by bringing the issues so many women and their families face to the Government’s attention.

56 women lost their lives to domestic violence in 2022, with another 39 losing their lives this year.

There have been 12 deaths in just this past month. That is a shocking 95 women in 84 weeks.

Ms Tink said, “Repeatedly I have called out the appallingly high rates of violence against women and the shortage of safe housing for those experiencing it, while also calling for families to be eligible for the Single Parent Payment even after their child turned eight.”

“In this year’s budget, the Government announced an extension of the payments to families with children until their child turns 14, and this week I was pleased to hear the Government articulate a target, with a five-year plan, to reduce the number of women killed by their intimate partners by 25 per cent each year.”

Social Services Minister, Amanda Rishworth’s, First Action Plan is accompanied by the first dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Plan and aims to reduce the number of women killed in intimate partner homicides.

The policy has realised the areas Ms Tink has consistently advocated for in her first year in parliament including an integrated and coordinated response across all levels of Government and services, improved access to housing for victims and increased support for women,

increased focus on perpetrator intervention; not only holding male perpetrators to account through the law, but also intervention through behavioural programs, and improved justice responses across police departments and courts.

“All of this is just a start. It is my sincere hope my daughters – and son - come to live in a world where every single Australian girl can aspire to be a Matilda,” said Ms Tink.