Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, it is true that the government has a big role to play in making more financial resources available to those who need shelters and counselling and other treatment services. However, there is also a lot we can do as leaders that does not involve money or intervention by the government.

We -- and I mean all political leaders in the North -- have an obligation to say very loudly and clearly in every setting and forum we find ourselves in that we have a family violence problem in our Territory, that it is wrong and we will not condone it, so that every young girl growing up in this Territory knows that it is not okay for her to grow up expecting to be beaten or otherwise abused, that this is not an acceptable practice and that there are people in positions of responsibility and power who are speaking for her. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause