Domestic and family violence is very much in the spotlight of our national conversation and locals are being urged to take up the challenge to eliminate it from our community.

State Member for Morayfield, Mark Ryan MP, is putting together a Family and Domestic Violence Working Group to engage with community and sector leaders about what we can all do to eliminate this scourge on our community.

The most recent statistics show that 1,249 Family Violence Protection Orders were made in Caboolture during 2013-14.

“This is a serious problem in our community, as it is across Queensland, and we need to band together and say no to domestic and family violence,” Mr Ryan said.

“I know that there is a lot of good work being done by local services and I want to build on that momentum.

“This week, the Queensland Government released a draft Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy and I will be starting up a local working group to provide input about how this strategy can work for our area.”

Over four years, $31.3 million will be invested to implement the initiatives recommended in the Not Now, Not Ever report. During 2015-16, Government funding to tackle domestic and family violence, including existing programs and new measures, will total more than $66 million.

The first meeting of the Family and Domestic Violence Working Group will be held on Friday 4 September 2015 at 2:30pm in the Supper Room at the Burpengary Community Hall. Please RSVP to [email protected] or by calling 07 5343 5100.

Details of the Queensland Government’s response to the Not Now, Not Ever report can be found at www.qld.gov.au/enddomesticandfamilyviolence