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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/23/victoria-afl-domestic-violence
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| A celebrity-led video campaign isn't enough to tackle domestic violence | A celebrity-led video campaign isn't enough to tackle domestic violence |
| (2 months later) | |
| Yesterday, four of Victoria’s most powerful figures stood up and exhorted their fellow men to "call out family violence for the crime that it is” in a series of videos and media appearances. | Yesterday, four of Victoria’s most powerful figures stood up and exhorted their fellow men to "call out family violence for the crime that it is” in a series of videos and media appearances. |
| With incidences of family violence escalating dramatically in Victoria, the stand is a laudable one with considerable good intent. Deep cultural change is required across society to combat our apparent acceptance to turn a blind eye or validate inappropriate behaviour, and the Herald-Sun is to be commended for making a stand and raising important questions. | With incidences of family violence escalating dramatically in Victoria, the stand is a laudable one with considerable good intent. Deep cultural change is required across society to combat our apparent acceptance to turn a blind eye or validate inappropriate behaviour, and the Herald-Sun is to be commended for making a stand and raising important questions. |
| The choice of men to represent the newspaper’s campaign is ostensibly understandable; police commissioner Ken Lay, Victorian premier Dennis Napthine, Melbourne mayor Robert Doyle and AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou. | The choice of men to represent the newspaper’s campaign is ostensibly understandable; police commissioner Ken Lay, Victorian premier Dennis Napthine, Melbourne mayor Robert Doyle and AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou. |
| And yet there are a number of issues with the inclusion and the message delivered by two of these men. | And yet there are a number of issues with the inclusion and the message delivered by two of these men. |
| As the Victorian premier, Napthine has been a curious addition to the group, especially given one of his staffers was accused last week of bullying two “shaken” ABC staffers to withhold unflattering footage. | As the Victorian premier, Napthine has been a curious addition to the group, especially given one of his staffers was accused last week of bullying two “shaken” ABC staffers to withhold unflattering footage. |
| It is even more curious given the Daniel Andrews, Labor opposition leader, claims the premier has overseen funding cuts to prevent and protect victims of family violence, including “appropriately fund[ing] Legal Aid, putting at risk the network of specialist family violence lawyers across our community legal services.” | It is even more curious given the Daniel Andrews, Labor opposition leader, claims the premier has overseen funding cuts to prevent and protect victims of family violence, including “appropriately fund[ing] Legal Aid, putting at risk the network of specialist family violence lawyers across our community legal services.” |
| Andrews went on to say the Liberal government “also axed Bsafe, a program that placed emergency SOS alarms in households and helped prevent family violence in rural areas”. In effect, Napthine’s stirring video makes Victorians responsible for the services and protection his government is unwilling to fund. | Andrews went on to say the Liberal government “also axed Bsafe, a program that placed emergency SOS alarms in households and helped prevent family violence in rural areas”. In effect, Napthine’s stirring video makes Victorians responsible for the services and protection his government is unwilling to fund. |
| And then there's Demetriou, head of the AFL – an organisation making headlines via rape and assault charges. In fact, the AFL is in danger of becoming infamous as a culture that struggles to accept women. Though there have been programs and manuals devised to address the issue, allegations persist. Demetriou also remains supportive of St Kilda footballer Stephen Milne, recently charged with rape, declaring that refusing to reinstate Milne, pending the outcome of the case, “would be unjust if he's right to play … that he be deprived of that opportunity to resume his career”. Milne strongly denies the charges. | And then there's Demetriou, head of the AFL – an organisation making headlines via rape and assault charges. In fact, the AFL is in danger of becoming infamous as a culture that struggles to accept women. Though there have been programs and manuals devised to address the issue, allegations persist. Demetriou also remains supportive of St Kilda footballer Stephen Milne, recently charged with rape, declaring that refusing to reinstate Milne, pending the outcome of the case, “would be unjust if he's right to play … that he be deprived of that opportunity to resume his career”. Milne strongly denies the charges. |
| It’s a puzzling inconsistency, given St Kilda have kept Milne on when they sacked former teammate Andrew Lovett the day after he was charged with similar offences without any concerns of presumed innocence (Lovett was later found not guity of rape). | It’s a puzzling inconsistency, given St Kilda have kept Milne on when they sacked former teammate Andrew Lovett the day after he was charged with similar offences without any concerns of presumed innocence (Lovett was later found not guity of rape). |
| Instead, Demetriou points to the AFL’s growing commitment to preventing violence with their manual and programs to help teach members and players how to respect women. | Instead, Demetriou points to the AFL’s growing commitment to preventing violence with their manual and programs to help teach members and players how to respect women. |
| Danny Blay, head of No To Violence, questions the usefulness of the AFL’s work. “I have had a few chats with Demetriou”, Blay says. “Ever since the AFL’s started Respect and Responsibility (a policy addressing violence against women), we’ve had concerns about what is being delivered to the players.“ | Danny Blay, head of No To Violence, questions the usefulness of the AFL’s work. “I have had a few chats with Demetriou”, Blay says. “Ever since the AFL’s started Respect and Responsibility (a policy addressing violence against women), we’ve had concerns about what is being delivered to the players.“ |
| As No To Violence is experienced in advising on such policies with many organisations, Blay offered assistance to the AFL but says they have been rebuffed with no reason given. Blay says “it’s quite rare that an organisation will move into the space but won’t collaborate” – a worry given that “if it’s not being done well and the recipients and players aren’t getting the message, it can be dangerous”. | As No To Violence is experienced in advising on such policies with many organisations, Blay offered assistance to the AFL but says they have been rebuffed with no reason given. Blay says “it’s quite rare that an organisation will move into the space but won’t collaborate” – a worry given that “if it’s not being done well and the recipients and players aren’t getting the message, it can be dangerous”. |
| All of this leads to a lingering concern: how effective will these videos be in combating the complex and ingrained issue of family violence, when fronted by figureheads who won’t commit to funding or collaborative programs? Why should people take responsibility for an issue when Napthine or Demetriou seem reluctant to address in this way? | All of this leads to a lingering concern: how effective will these videos be in combating the complex and ingrained issue of family violence, when fronted by figureheads who won’t commit to funding or collaborative programs? Why should people take responsibility for an issue when Napthine or Demetriou seem reluctant to address in this way? |
| There’s no doubt these videos are compelling as a symbolic check on Australia’s culture of violence, but what real action will they inspire? According to Blay, “we really don’t come across men who agree with violence against women, but they’re still using violence”. | There’s no doubt these videos are compelling as a symbolic check on Australia’s culture of violence, but what real action will they inspire? According to Blay, “we really don’t come across men who agree with violence against women, but they’re still using violence”. |
| This speaks to a change that videos can’t create, no matter how well intentioned. Offenders who commit violence will tell you sincerely they do not agree with family violence. But within the home, family violence always finds a justification that can’t be erased by two minute celebrity video. | This speaks to a change that videos can’t create, no matter how well intentioned. Offenders who commit violence will tell you sincerely they do not agree with family violence. But within the home, family violence always finds a justification that can’t be erased by two minute celebrity video. |
| It is programs that work – like the axed Bsafe program which dramatically reduced physical violence against Victorian women while keeping them in their home, or Massachusetts' domestic homicide program which reduced incidences of violence and “shift[ed] the burden of being surveilled from the victim to the abuser”. | It is programs that work – like the axed Bsafe program which dramatically reduced physical violence against Victorian women while keeping them in their home, or Massachusetts' domestic homicide program which reduced incidences of violence and “shift[ed] the burden of being surveilled from the victim to the abuser”. |
| Australia’s chief of army, lieutenant David Morrison has shown that powerful words can inspire hope and change – but those words were backed with action, a commitment to change through programs and a clear message that his words were not an optional call, they were an order. | Australia’s chief of army, lieutenant David Morrison has shown that powerful words can inspire hope and change – but those words were backed with action, a commitment to change through programs and a clear message that his words were not an optional call, they were an order. |
| Dismantling family violence requires commitment beyond videos and telling others to change their behaviour. It requires funding and action. | Dismantling family violence requires commitment beyond videos and telling others to change their behaviour. It requires funding and action. |
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