Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (21:43): Margaret Henry, a wonderful community activist, sadly died in September last year. Margaret was a Newcastle transport and heritage advocate, a former Newcastle university history lecturer, a Greens councillor, an activist on big and small issues across five decades and a dedicated mother and grandmother.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (21:06): How wonderful was the news that Rosie Batty was to be the Australian of the Year. It was a most important decision. The Baird Liberal government in New South Wales, however, is not doing enough to protect the women and children fleeing from domestic violence. When you look at what is happening in my home state you really wonder if they have listened to the Australian of the Year.

CHAIR: Senator Rhiannon.

Lee's opinion piece on gender and the aid program was published today.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is right to focus Australian aid on women and children, but the current cuts to the budget and the further alignment of Australian aid with our own national interest that Ms Bishop is promoting runs counter to this goal.

The Australian Senate today passed a Greens motion calling on state and federal governments to retain funding for specialist women-only services to allow them to offer independent, high quality and culturally appropriate services.

"It is truly shameful that the NSW Liberal government is forcing the closure of several women's refuges in NSW while other will see their services cut back.

"More than 25 women-only refuges in NSW have had their funding cut by the state Liberal/National government.

Retain funding for specialist women-only services  – Senate backs Greens motion

 The Australian Senate today passed a Greens motion calling on state and federal governments to retain funding for specialist women-only services to allow them to offer independent, high quality and culturally appropriate services.

“It is truly shameful that the NSW Liberal government is forcing the closure of several women’s refuges in NSW while other will see their services cut back.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (20:44): Thirty-nine years ago on 4 July 1975, Juanita Nielsen went to Abe Saffron's Carousel Club in Kings Cross. She was never seen again. As another year passes and as we mark one more anniversary of Juanita's disappearance, I rise to pay tribute to Juanita and remember her life.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (13:09): After a group of students disrupted the normally carefully stage managed ABC Q&A program in early May, many people, particularly on the conservative side of politics, grumbled about their attitude and apparent disrespect. Not surprisingly, most of those tut-tutting are not going to be directly affected by the government's sweeping changes to higher education.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (22:09): Last Thursday, 12 June 2014, I participated in a moving but troubling event: the 33rd anniversary of the death of a 21-year-old rugby league player Eddie Murray which occurred at a police station in Wee Waa in northern New South Wales. At that event, I met Anne Murray, the last person in his family to see Eddie alive. At the time, Anne was 15.