Sussan Ley calls for big companies to donate to domestic violence services over Christmas

Sussan Ley has written to major companies asking them to support domestic violence services over Christmas and share materials pointing Australians to avenues for help should they need it.

Acting Opposition Leader Sussan Ley. Picture: Chris Kidd

Acting Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has written to major companies asking them to support domestic violence services over Christmas and share materials pointing Australians to avenues for help should they need it.

Ms Ley, the highest-ranking woman in the Coalition, wrote to major organisations including Woolworths, Coles, Bunnings, Qantas, Virgin, social media giants including TikTok, Meta, LinkedIn and Google and major fast-food outlets.

“This Christmas-New Year holiday period, families are facing higher interest rates and increased cost-of-living pressures. This will put many Australians under extra strain this holiday season,” she said in the letter, seen by The Australian.

“Sadly, this will likely see cases of family and domestic violence once again rise. That is why I am seeking your help to generate greater awareness of the support services available for Australians in need.”

Ms Ley urged them to share links to emergency services, 1800RESPECT, Lifeline, MensLine, the Kids Help Line and 13Yarn.

“Australians will have significant interactions with your ­organisation during the holiday period and so I am requesting you consider ways to raise awareness of these services,” she said in the letter.

“Given the likely spike in domestic and family violence related incidences during this Christmas-New Year holiday period, please consider using your social media channels, websites and phone applications to push messaging of the supports available.”

She called for the multibillion-dollar organisations to consider donating to one of the services offering support to people facing domestic and family violence.

“Vulnerable women in Australia cannot afford to see domestic violence support services drop at the time of the year they are most likely to need them and in a year where so many women have already been killed at the hands of someone they know,” she said.

“On that basis, I also sincerely request your organisation consider making a Christmas donation to one of the many charities doing fantastic lifesaving work in Australia.”

According to leading service providers, rates of domestic violence peak over the summer, with NSW seeing an increase in family and domestic violence assault of 85 per cent on regular levels on New Year’s Day.

In 2019 and 2020, Victoria recorded a 111 per cent increase on the same day, while Queensland, the NT, Tasmania and South Australia also saw increases of between 50 and 112 per cent.