NATALIE BARR, HOST: Well, Police Ministers and top law officers from around the country will meet today to focus on the issue of violence against women. It follows a National Cabinet meeting this week which led to extra financial help for people fleeing violent relationships, as well as new online laws targeting pornography. But there's been criticism that the new measures don't go far enough. For more, let's cross live to the Prime Minister. Good morning to you. Let's start with the Government pledge of $925 million for a leaving violence program. You said, ‘I want women to know if they need to leave, they can afford to go’. Is this enough?
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's an important step forward, Nat, this $5,000 payment, as well as providing further support, access to support services, other assistance as well. But $5,000 as a payment will be, it's available now in a trial form. But what we've done is to beef up the program to make sure that there's more, more support, not just the financial payment, but that those support services kick in as well, as an important step forward, an important outcome out of the National Cabinet. In addition to that, we had the online safety measures that we will undertake. Measures including reclassification issues that have been left stagnant for some period of time. Addressing young people having access to often what can be violent pornographic material is something that we need to address as well. So, they were the two steps forward. But also, of course, states and territories will all come together today at the Attorney-Generals meeting to talk about the law, justice systems, bail laws, those matters that are primarily the responsibility of states and territories. In addition to that, the NSW Cabinet is meeting today as well to talk about measures that are within NSW that they can take control of, issues like community services and housing.
BARR: So, how do women get it? Because in a lot of these situations, we know the man, and we know it's a man in most situations, they control everything. They control their lives, they coercively control the woman. How do they get the money? How do they get out? We're also hearing that crisis accommodation is a huge problem. We've got regional shelters handing out tents, opening up car parks where women are sleeping in their cars. This is a huge problem.
PRIME MINISTER: It is, Nat. Two issues that you raised there. One is this payment goes directly to the woman involved in these circumstances, so not through the husband, to get away from coercive control is a massive issue which is there. Secondly, on the second issue, rehousing, we've allocated funding through our Housing Australia Future Fund for emergency accommodation for women and children escaping domestic violence. I'll be in discussions with the states and territories as well, about what more can be done. We know that the circumstances where a woman escaping a violent situation has to sleep in a car or surf on a couch of a friend and rotate around with. We hear stories about that as well. It is unacceptable in 2024. And we need to do better. There's no question about that, Nat.
BARR: In 2021, the Coalition piloted a similar one-off payment initiative. A review found over half of applicants couldn't actually access those funds. So, I know it sounds good saying, ‘We're going to get it to the woman’, but how do you actually ensure it does? Have you had feedback on that?
PRIME MINISTER: That's why we did the review, Nat, so that we could improve the system and make sure that the money can get directly to the woman involved.
BARR: Okay. We're also finding that bail and AVOs just, they keep coming up, don't they, that a lot of these attackers, unfortunately were out on bail or they had the AVO out on them. Some feedback, some lawyers say more penalties for breaches, maybe GPS trackers. How on earth are they getting out on bail? Let's look at this detainee debacle. Commonwealth prosecutors apparently did not oppose bail in that circumstance in Perth. Your own Government board did not recommend an ankle bracelet. Is it time that your Minister was sacked?
PRIME MINISTER: No, Nat. I mean, in this country, in Australia, we have a separation of the judicial system from the political system. But if it was up to me, I assure you that there wouldn't have been bail granted in that case. But these things are done independently by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
BARR: But it wasn't opposed.
PRIME MINISTER: And in consultation of the AFP. That wasn't a decision of Government, Nat. And I'm saying that I am just as upset about that decision as you are. I think that lacks common sense. And that is one of the things, no doubt, that will be on the agenda today at the meeting of Attorney-Generals that will be chaired by Mark Dreyfus in Canberra, bringing together all the states and territories to look at bail laws, to look at these issues.
BARR: Okay. If you've got a board that you guys appointed that's saying this person doesn't need an ankle bracelet, surely that's a failure.
PRIME MINISTER: Yes, it is. I think that's a wrong decision by that board, but they make the decisions.
BARR: But you appointed them. Who's responsible for that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, they make the decisions independent. One of the things that we have in this country is a separation there. And look, the whole NZYQ case was something that we opposed, that decision of the High Court. The Government has had to deal with the implications of that and the results of that. We've been trying to do that. We're bringing in, we've brought in a range of laws. We have a law before the Senate now that we wanted to pass in March when Parliament was sitting, and that's been held up with another inquiry by a coalition of the Liberals, Nats and Greens. So, we want to take as strong an action as possible here. We recognise that community safety is the absolute priority. And my heart goes out to Ninette. No one should be subject to that sort of violence. It is an outrage that this occurred. And my Government is committed to doing what we can to address these issues.
BARR: Let's go to this horrible story overseas. Before you go, there's this desperate search underway for the two Aussie brothers missing in Mexico. Do you have an update for us this morning?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, this is a really concerning situation. We've been in touch through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with the family. Our embassy in Mexico is working with local authorities as well to try to ascertain what has happened here. We certainly hope that these brothers are found safely, but there is real concern about the fact that they've gone missing. Their mother is obviously very distressed about this. And we just hope for a positive outcome.
BARR: Yes, we're all hoping, aren't we? Prime Minister, thank you for your time.
PRIME MINISTER: We are indeed. Thanks very much, Nat.