Quentin Bryce: ‘There are a lot of very angry men around’

Former Governor-General Dame Quentin Bryce has called out the men in the community “against the progress of women”, saying such thinking is why the nation has a DV crisis.

ANGRY men want to control and dominate women in a “national crisis’’ of domestic violence, former Governor-General Quentin Bryce declared yesterday.

Dame Quentin, who presided over Queensland’s “Not now, not ever’’ inquiry into domestic violence, demanded more taxpayer funding to tackle “terrorism in people’s homes’’.

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She said domestic violence was “about men having power and control’’.

“I think among some men there’s a backlash against the advancements and progress of women gaining power and leadership, and how their roles have changed,’’ she told The Courier-Mail in an exclusive interview yesterday.

“It’s ownership, like women are possessions and the male owns them.

Killer Rowan Baxter.

“Men who abuse women have very grave issues of self-control, anger and power. There is a lot of anger around.’’

Dame Quentin urged men to reach out to mates in rocky relationships.

“Steady on, mate” is the message she wants blokes to tell friends, family or colleagues who become angry or aggressive.

“Men need to stand up and speak out about this,’’ she said.

“It’s damned hard work persuading men to ask for help when they need it, when things are going wrong in a relationship, but men need to talk.

“Programs that have been developed for men who obviously need help, and have a grave and serious problem of anger control, need to be better resourced.’’

Hannah Clarke with her children Aaliyah,Laianah and Trey.

Dame Quentin burst into tears yesterday as she spoke about the savage murder of Hannah Clarke and her three children by their violent father in Camp Hill this week.

“This could happen again next week,’’ she said.

“The murders this week have shocked everyone … I can’t get it out of my mind.

“The gravest human rights issue in our country is domestic violence.

“We’re talking about terrorism in people’s homes.’’

Dame Quentin praised the State Government for implementing all 140 of her recommendations but said more money must be spent on programs for perpetrators and emergency housing for victims fleeing abuse.

“I know there’s a lot being done but it needs more thrown at it,’’ she said.

“We’re not keeping (victims) safe.

“Where do you go if you don’t have family?’’

Dame Quentin called on Queenslanders to ask “are you OK?’’ instead of thinking, “it’s none of my business’’.

“Early intervention is the key,’’ she said.

“So often you hear comments like, ‘I knew there was something wrong’, or ‘I had a bad feeling about them’.

“I think there’s still a sense that life inside people’s homes is private and there’s still a hesitation to interfere.’’

Queensland’s Minister for Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Di Farmer, yesterday said more men had come forward to seek help from DV services in the past few days.

“(Services) have seen an incredible surge in calls from people asking for help – and importantly from people asking for help to stop being violent,’’ she said.

“We can all help victims to know that what is happening to them is not okay, and perpetrators to understand that they need to change what they’re doing.’’