Matthew Newton needs to face up to 'serious' actions, says violence expert
VIOLENCE prevention expert says troubled TV star must take more responsibility for the hurt and harm he has caused.
MATTHEW Newton must take more responsibility for the hurt and harm he has caused through his actions in order to get help, a leading violence prevention expert has said.
Dr Michael Flood said Newton has failed to fully commit himself to changing his actions, or properly acknowledge he even has a problem.
Speaking after the star's appearance on the Nine Network's A Current Affair last night, Dr Flood said it wasn't enough for Newton to admit he was a "ticking time bomb".
Dr Flood, who is also a spokesman for White Ribbon Australia, a male-led campaign to stop violence against women, acknowledged that while mental health can be a risk factor for violence, it wasn't enough to explain or condone his behaviour.
"Matthew Newton's story puts the spotlight on some men's use of violence against women. But it also misleads," he told news.com.au.
"Research suggests mental health issues are not a driving force for violence against women. It's certainly a risk factor, but generally violence is about an entitlement to power."
Dr Flood added most men who abuse and control their partners aren't suffering depression or other mental ill health but use violence because they feel entitled to do so.
He added men who have abused a partner are more likely to stop if they acknowledge their violent behaviour and the harm it has caused others and make a commitment to change by seeking professional help.
Dr Flood said Newton seemed to distance himself from his problem during last night's TV appearance.
"So far, Matthew Newton hasn't done enough to take responsibility for his actions or commit himself to changing them," he said.
"We're talking about serious criminal behaviour."
Newton, 35, said he had wanted to kill himself as he struggled with post-traumatic stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder and bipolar depression.
He was forced to seek treatment after a blow-up with his former girlfriend and actor Rachael Taylor in a Rome hotel room led to legal action.
Newton, who was treated for his illness at Sydney's Northside West Clinic, said he had thrown himself at floors and walls as he went through therapy as well as dislocating his jaw and putting a fist through a window, doing damage that required micro surgery.
He said he went through a complete breakdown.
"I was a walking time bomb," he said.
"It is intolerable to harm women, it is intolerable to harm your best friends and it is intolerable to harm yourself."
Newton, the son of showbusiness couple Bert and Patti Newton, said his biggest mistake was not knowing that he needed treatment.
"I needed to be forced and I'm very grateful to the people who forced me to get that treatment because it probably saved my life. It did save my life," he said.
After his meltdown in Rome, Newton went through the court system where it was revealed that Ms Taylor suffered 12 months of physical and verbal abuse at the hands of the actor.
Newton would not go into the legal aspects of his story, but said he was ashamed of the way he had behaved.
"You have to be respectful, that's all I want to say about it," he said.
Newtown says he is now well on the road to recovery and wants to act again.
"I don't want anything in the way of the person I'm going to be, the person I want to be," he said.
For information about suicide prevention contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, SANE Helpline on 1800 18 SANE (7263) or conact White Ribbon www.whiteribbon.org.au
- with AAP