Australia has received its long-awaited commissioner to address domestic, family and sexual violence, as the Coalition rushes through more last-minute appointments.
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As the minutes tick down to the federal election, Social Services Minister Anne Ruston on Friday revealed Catherine Fitzpatrick will become Australia's first National Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner on a five-year term.
Ms Fitzpatrick is currently Westpac's director of customer vulnerability, having previously worked as a journalist, and is a member of the NSW Attorney-General's domestic and family violence leadership group.
Senator Ruston said Ms Fitzpatrick had three decades of experience in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.
"Ms Fitzpatrick's appointment to this important role includes monitoring and evaluation to support the National Plan delivering real and tangible actions that will help end violence against women and children," she said.
"I have no doubt [her] broad experience will further elevate the national conversation on gendered violence and the role we all play in ending [it]."
A commission was recommended by a parliamentary inquiry into domestic, family and sexual violence when it handed down its report in April last year.
One woman a week is murdered in Australia by her current or former partner. A third of Australian women experience physical violence by the age of 15.
Ms Fitzpatrick, who will commence the role on July 1, described it as an opportunity to "galvanise" the efforts of government, business and the community.
"My first priority will be to listen to victim-survivors, because we owe it to them and every other person whose life has been affected," she said.
The Coalition has committed $22.4 million to the commission over the next five years. The development fulfils a Coalition pledge to establish a family violence commissioner, just weeks from the election.
In November, Labor also pledged to appoint a family violence commissioner and make preventing domestic abuse a "national priority" if it won government.
It came after the Coalition was criticised for its handling of former staffer Brittany Higgins' alleged rape by a colleague in 2019, while Prime Minister Scott Morrison has also been at loggerheads with former Australian of the Year Grace Tame.
Senator Ruston also revealed former Domestic Violence NSW chief executive Moo Baulch has been appointed chair of Our Watch, Australia's leading not-for-profit working to end violence against women and children.
Ms Baulch also aided the development of a Commonwealth Bank program designed to help women escaping domestic abuse.
"It's a particularly exciting time for the organisation, with the recent announcement about increased Commonwealth funding to expand the reach of this important work," she said.
- Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; Mensline 1300 789 978; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732.
