Rosie Batty responds to Mark Latham’s comments about domestic violence
OUTGOING Australian of the Year Rosie Batty has responded to former Labor leader Mark Latham’s controversial comments about domestic violence.
OUTGOING Australian of the Year Rosie Batty says she hopes Mark Latham becomes better educated about domestic violence.
“I really hope that someone like Mark is able to become more informed and (is) not stuck in the, I guess, ignorant position because that type of thinking went out several decades ago,” she said.
“But, as I said, there are still some people unfortunately very influenced and stuck in those (mindsets).”
Mr Latham sparked controversy last week when he attacked Ms Batty in a podcast for radio station Triple M.
He described her as a “spokeswoman for the left feminist movement”.
“A lot of Australians are asking how did that tragedy where a lunatic drugged-out father sadly maliciously killed his own son - how’s that morphed into a generalised campaign against all Australian men?
“That’s the thing that worries me about the domestic violence campaign.
“I worry that the domestic violence debate is being used as a Trojan horse to push a left wing feminist position saying that we are a patriarchy.”
He went on to say he was worried that Ms Batty was “causing more harm than good”, saying there was a “demonisation of men” that had emerged in Australia.
“There’s a demonisation of men here, where if you listen to Rosie Batty every man is potentially a wife basher, every woman is at risk,” he said.
Latham’s comments were widely condemned, with a petition on Change.org calling for him to be sacked from Triple M and Channel Nine.
Ms Batty will officially finish her tenure as Australian of the Year tonight.
She told reporters on Monday she would continue her work through the Luke Batty Foundation — which the Prime Minister announced would receive a government grant.
She’s also taking off for a trek through India in two weeks’ time and will visit New York in March for the United Nations Women’s Conference.
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