As Australian women demand action against domestic violence, which the country’s prime minister has called a “national crisis,” one state has appointed a special official to help improve men’s behavior.
Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan announced that state MP Tim Richardson would be the first Parliamentary Secretary for Men’s Behavior Change in the country. Richardson plans to focus on how the internet and social media influence men’s attitudes towards women, and on promoting respectful relationships.
Gender-based violence is a serious problem in Australia, with 31 women killed across the country so far this year, according to the Counting Dead Women project. Last year, 64 women were murdered.
Several recent violent incidents have shocked the nation, including a shooting in Perth where a woman and her daughter were killed by a man allegedly looking for his ex-partner and daughter. In another incident, five women were killed by a man with a knife at a Sydney shopping center.
Tarang Chawla, who founded the non-profit Not One More Niki after his sister was murdered by her partner, hopes the new position will help address male violence in Australia. However, some, like Jane Hume of the opposition Liberal Party, question how effective the appointment will be.
Richardson responded to the reactions, emphasizing the importance of positive role models for men and breaking away from gender stereotypes.
While this new position exists at a state level, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a rapid review into domestic violence prevention, acknowledging it as a national crisis and stating that ending violence against women is a responsibility for society as a whole.