Perrottet joins cross-party call for royal commission into violence against women

Dominic Perrottet has joined a cross-party coalition of male MPs calling for an interrogation of the systemic cultural issues fuelling domestic violence against women, with the former Liberal premier saying he supports a royal commission.

A dozen male Labor, Coalition and crossbench MPs approached by the Herald said cultural change was imperative to ending gendered violence, while several added that a royal commission was the only way to properly examine the systemic drivers behind the issue.

Dominic Perrottet says a federal royal commission would guide “meaningful action”.

Perrottet said criminal elements and systemic cultural issues, such as young boys having access to violent video games and violent pornography, needed to be carefully considered. He said a federal royal commission would guide “meaningful action”.

“I’m supportive of a royal commission because, whilst we need immediate action now, violence against women is such a complex issue that having a holistic inquiry can only be beneficial,” he said.

The NSW government is seriously considering calls for a state-based royal commission after the alleged murder of 28-year-old Molly Ticehurst at the hands of her partner, with acting Premier Prue Car saying “all options” were being considered ahead of a crisis cabinet meeting on Friday.

Labor MLC Bob Nanva called for short, medium and long-term strategies for tackling DV, including improving funding models and challenging the “cultural drivers of male violence”, saying the challenge was subverting a commonplace “model of masculinity that degrades women”.

“The issue of addressing domestic violence is complex, but the recent spate of confronting incidents is proof that a business-as-usual approach will continue to result in the same tragedies,” he said.

“In the medium term we need to improve funding models for crisis services and early intervention programs to stop the cycle of violence. These funds should not be viewed as costs, but significant investments.”

Independent Wakehurst MP Michael Regan echoed Nanva’s comments, saying generational change was riding on men taking the lead. A royal commission needed to be about emerging issues, and could not be an “excuse for doing nothing”, he said.

“It’s men killing women and children and performing these acts of violence on women,” he said.

The “era of ‘not all men’ needs to end”, Liberal Ryde MP Jordan Lane said.

“The reality is, this is overwhelmingly male violence – against women, against children, against families and against other men. All men are responsible for addressing the scourge of DV, as are governments at all levels,” he said.

Nationals MP Michael Kemp said men needed to hold one another accountable and “call out this toxic behaviour”, while greater investment was needed for preventative measures, “whether that be regulating emotion or reframing how society views women”.

Labor Leppington MP Nathan Hagarty said the increase in “misogynistic and sexist content circulating online” was particularly concerning for younger generations.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese committed nearly $1 billion for women fleeing violent relationships, while announcing legislation that would ban deepfake pornography, along with $6.5 million for a pilot of age assurance technology.

Legalise Cannabis MLC Jeremy Buckingham called for reviewing apprehended domestic violence orders (ADVO) to ensure survivors felt safe when they took them out, noting the rate of breaching ADVOs had increased by 7.7 per cent over the past five years.

“Perpetrators are increasingly ignoring court orders and that is concerning. That means better alignment with the courts on what constitutes a serious offence. We already have a DFV [domestic and family violence] electronic monitoring program but with greater funding, it could be expanded,” he said.

Nationals Clarence MP Richie Williamson called for a two-stage response: first, urging the government to bring on legislation “next week”; the second being a royal commission into family and domestic violence.

Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich said a royal commission could be useful for looking into emerging concerns but could not be used as a “delay tactic” to properly fund frontline services.

A holistic approach to ending domestic violence was imperative, Labor Fairfield MP David Saliba said, including law and order, health and education. He noted financial abuse as a form of coercive control and domestic violence.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

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