Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek has revealed she was assaulted while walking home at night in Canberra, saying her experience showed why women can feel unsafe when they are alone.

Plibersek made the disclosure while speaking on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing about the impact of education and programs aimed at preventing violence against women and children.

Her comments followed criticism of Nationals leader Matt Canavan, who had said boys were “sick and tired of the feminisation” of Australia’s curriculum through state-funded Respectful Relationships programs.

Plibersek said the effects of inadequate education about respectful relationships and violence could be wide-reaching, including for women who hold positions of significant public responsibility.

“I’m a cabinet minister, I’m in a pretty powerful position. When I walk to my car at night in a dark car park, I still get my keys out in case someone attacks me. I’ve been assaulted walking home in Canberra at night,” Plibersek said.

She said women could not always know whether a man they encountered while walking alone was safe to be around.

“I think what some men don’t understand is … They say ‘not all men’, and I agree, I have wonderful men in my life, but as a woman, you don’t know which man it is, and when you’re walking alone at night on the street, you don’t know whether someone’s safe to be around or not,” she said.

Plibersek also urged Canavan to speak with women in his life about their experiences of feeling unsafe.

The comments came as the government continued to respond to the latest national report on domestic, family and sexual violence. Australia By Aussie has previously reported on Plibersek’s call for continued action following the report, which found sexual violence remained at historically high levels.

Tanya Plibersek says Australia ‘owes them action’ after violence report

Source: The Guardian