The Music Network (02/18/19) Heyman, Martin

A new initiative by Western Australia's government aims to boost women's safety from harassment or intimidation at music venues or events. The government has apportioned a three-year grant of $60,000 to Safer Venues WA to implement female safety action. Safer Venues WA will first invest the money on venue staff training, additional female security, posters warning against harassment, and more security cameras. “This is an issue that young women, particularly, raise with me often, so it is important that we create safer spaces for women to enjoy nightlife and live music,” said women's interests minister Simone McGurk. Culture and the arts minister David Templeman cited a Safer Venues WA poll estimating that “67 percent of respondents had experienced harassment in a WA venue, 80 percent of whom were women. This is not acceptable.” Furthermore, two out of five women leave an event following an incident, while half are as likely to stay with friends than report it to security.

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