Western Australian MP Jessica Page has issued a powerful and direct challenge to the state government, demanding it move beyond symbolic gestures and deliver concrete, urgent action to address the domestic violence crisis.
A Challenge to the Status Quo
The call comes as the government's 16 Days in WA campaign, an annual initiative to raise awareness about violence against women, concluded. Jessica Page, the member for the South West region, marked what she termed 'Day 17' with a pointed question: what happens when the awareness campaigns end? Her argument is that while awareness is necessary, it is utterly insufficient without a corresponding surge in tangible resources and systemic reform.
Page's critique centres on what she perceives as a significant gap between government rhetoric and the reality on the ground. She highlights the immense pressure on frontline services, where workers are overwhelmed and under-resourced. "We need real action, not just real talk," Page stated emphatically, capturing the frustration of advocates and victims who see little change despite repeated promises.
The Stark Reality Behind the Statistics
The urgency of Page's demand is underscored by harrowing statistics. In Western Australia alone, police respond to a domestic violence incident roughly every sixteen minutes. This relentless tide of violence places an unsustainable burden on support services and leaves countless women and children in peril.
Page is advocating for a multi-faceted approach that addresses both immediate safety and long-term prevention. Her demands include a substantial and immediate boost in funding for crisis accommodation and frontline support services. She argues that women fleeing violence must have a safe place to go, and the organisations that provide that sanctuary need guaranteed, long-term financial security to operate effectively.
Furthermore, the MP is pushing for the full implementation of all recommendations from the 2022 Report of the Select Committee into the Victim Protection System. This report outlined a comprehensive blueprint for improving legal protections and support for victims, yet progress has been slow. Page's intervention signals a growing impatience with the pace of change.
Beyond Crisis Response: A Call for Systemic Change
Jessica Page's vision extends beyond crisis management. She is calling for a profound shift in how the justice system handles domestic violence cases, advocating for specialist courts and improved training for judicial officers to better understand the complexities of coercive control and family violence.
Perhaps most significantly, Page emphasises the critical need for primary prevention—stopping violence before it starts. This requires sustained investment in educational programs that challenge harmful gender stereotypes and promote respectful relationships from a young age. It means addressing the deep-seated cultural and social norms that perpetuate violence against women.
"We have to stop just talking about it and actually do something," Page concluded, framing the issue as a test of political will. Her 'Day 17' challenge removes the comfort of a defined campaign period and places the onus squarely on the government to demonstrate that its commitment to ending domestic violence is a year-round, actionable priority, not just a calendar event.
The ball is now in the court of the WA government to respond with the scale and speed that the crisis demands. For the countless victims and frontline workers, the hope is that this call for 'real action' finally triggers a response that matches the severity of the emergency.
