The government has denied that the peak body for culturally and linguistically diverse Australians was not consulted about the national plan to reduce violence against women and their children, producing emails showing the body declined an invitation to discuss the plan.
A Senate inquiry into domestic violence heard last month that the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (Fecca) had not been invited to roundtable discussions during the consultation stage of the plan, established by the previous Labor government and continuing under the present administration.
The chairwoman of Fecca’s women’s advisory committee, Pallavi Sinha, told the inquiry: “We welcome the plan and are happy it mentions the Cald [culturally and linguistically diverse] women and the community, but [when it comes to] that emphasis on the how and engaging with the right organisation, we really do think the peak body for the culturally and linguistically diverse communities should be engaged in the implementations stage, in the development stage.”
But the minister assisting the prime minister for women, Michaelia Cash, has produced emails in which Sinha declined an invitation to roundtable talks.
One email, seen by Guardian Australia, was sent from the assistant secretary at the Office of Women, Mairi Steele, to Fecca in January, inviting the group to a roundtable in February.
“Thanks for sending this invitation. Unfortunately, I can’t attend. However, I would be pleased to be advised of future meetings at this email address & postal address,” Sinha responded.
Sinha was told Fecca was still welcome to write a submission for the plan, which it did.
Sinha said she understood the initial question in the Senate inquiry to be about the post-submission process.
