A community forum on domestic and family violence, hosted by Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams, will be held on Tuesday, June 13 with local residents invited to attend.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Pru Goward will attend the forum along with experts from NSW Police, the Department of Family and Community Services and non-government service providers in the Port Macquarie community.

“Forums such as these are a great opportunity for local residents to gain insights about the issue, and talk to domestic and family violence experts on the frontline,” Minister Goward said.

Mrs Williams encourages as many members of the Port Macquarie community to attend.

“This is a great way to empower our community to have a voice on the issue and contribute to the government’s work of tackling domestic violence,”Mrs Williams said.

The local MP said the NSW Government had doubled the investment in specialist domestic violence initiatives to more than $300 million over four years in the 2016-17 Budget.

The forum comes off the back of a visit earlier this year by Australian of the Year Rosie Batty who was guest speaker at the International Women’s Day breakfast in Port Macquarie.

At the breakfast, Ms Batty gave some clear insight into the change that must occur for the cycle of violence to be broken.

“Moving forward with family violence does start with a conversation.

“There is no greater community problem than family violence and it has to be acknowledged and we are all part of the solution and we all can do something. We can look at the way we talk to our children, the way we model respect to each other – because if we are not modelling it ourselves how on earth can we expect younger generations to do that.

“Not all disrespect ends with violence, but all violence starts with disrespect.”

Rosie said the momentum for change has started, but accountability in politics and our judicial system is critical.

The Port Macquarie domestic and family violence community forum will be held at 6.30pm on June 13 at Mercure Centro Port Macquarie.

To attend this forum, please email portmacquarie@parliament.nsw.gov.au or call 65840977.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 656 463 or 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.