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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
Lucy Bladen

Liberals promise dedicated endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic

The Canberra Liberals have promised to establish a dedicated endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic at the Canberra Hospital.

The party has also committed to establishing a domestic and family violence fast response unit, which would include police, medical personnel and social workers, to respond to incidents in the ACT.

The announcements are included as part of a suite of measures designed to support women if the opposition is elected at next month's territory election.

Deputy opposition leader Leanne Castley said the endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic would mean fewer women would have to travel interstate for treatment.

"In the ACT there are thousands of women who live with endometriosis, adenomyosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome and/or infertility. However, Canberra's facilities for treating endometriosis and pelvic pain are fragmented and inadequate," she said.

"The Canberra Liberals know how challenging it is for women in the ACT with endometriosis who have to travel interstate for treatment and as a result we will establish a truly multidisciplinary endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic at the Canberra Hospital."

The proposed domestic and family violence unit would operate in a similar fashion to the Police, Ambulance, Clinician Emergency Response program, known as PACER, which responds to mental health incidents in the territory.

Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee and deputy opposition leader Leanne Castley. Picture by Gary Ramage

Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee said a Liberal government would fund two domestic and family violence response units.

"The two DFV units will include three police officers, three medical personnel and three domestic and family violence response trained social workers and operate similar to the current PACER program," she said.

"Domestic and family violence is a scourge in our society and a Canberra Liberals government will deliver more support where it is needed most - on our frontline - to ensure that we do everything we can to support those that need it most."

The Liberals also say they would ensure all money raised through the safer families levy, a $50 levy on rates bills to fund programs that tackle family and domestic violence, would go to frontline services.

The government faced criticism of how it used money raised from the levy after it was revealed last year it was used to train public servants and frontline services had missed out.

The Liberals have also reaffirmed their commitment to legislate a standalone offence for coercive control. The opposition put forward a bill that was voted down by Labor and Greens members of the Assembly last month.

The opposition's legislation would have made it an offence for someone to engage in "abusive conduct" against their partner or former partner which is intended to coerce or control.

A person could have faced up to seven years in jail if they were found guilty of coercive control under the bill.

"As a government we will make the necessary legislative changes to bring the ACT in line with other jurisdictions who have made coercive control a standalone criminal offence," Ms Castley said.

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