Tanya Plibersek, Sussan Ley united in call for education of boys to stop violence against women

SPECIAL REPORT: Amid a wave of violence against women, a chorus of powerful female leaders has called for an intervention in the education of young boys.

Amid a wave of violence against women, a chorus of the nation’s powerful female leaders has called for an intervention in the education of young boys.

It comes after a string of shocking incidents against women in NSW recently, including an alleged gang rape of a teen in southwestern Sydney and the murder of 19-year-old Audrey Griffin on The Central Coast.

Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said while billions of dollars had been poured into addressing the gender-based violence scourge, the efforts were up against “countervailing forces” like violent pornography shared freely on social media and influences like Andrew Tate.

Ms Plibersek said fathers, father figures, sports coaches and other male role models needed to step up and set boys on the right path, and open conversations about what comprises a healthy relationship.

“Kid are watching choking and anal sex (online) before they’ve even had their first kiss,” Ms Plibersek said. “Seventy per cent of boys have seen pornography before the age of 13. It is having an influence on the relationships between boys and girls, when they are being mobbed with this imagery.”

Tanya Plibersek (left) and Michael Coutts-Trotter with their daughter Anna. Picture: Facebook

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley also called for an intervention to “rescue” boys from misogynistic forces online and in communities.

Other leaders called for education and action.

Australian Institute of Family Studies research released this month showed high levels of social support and paternal affection both reduced the likelihood of men using intimate partner violence.

Ms Plibersek said the antidote to the “hate being pushed towards women” was “love, the love of a father or father figure”.

“It is a strong antidote to that toxicity that is being shoved down the throats of these kids,” she said.

A fierce advocate for wom­en’s safety since her university days, Ms Plibersek earlier revealed she was threatened with rape while a student.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley. Picture: Simon Dallinger

Last year, Ms Plibersek’s daughter Anna Coutts-Trotter – who co-founded The Survivor Hub – spoke about her own experience in an abusive relationship when at school.

Ms Plibersek said it “breaks my heart” that society had not been able to solve the problem for her daughter’s generation, but said it would remain a priority for her in her new role.

“It was devastating,” she said, after learning of the abuse.

“It’s just the worst thing that someone has hurt your child, and to see her go through the subsequent court process. The toll that it takes on a victim of crime.”

Describing this week’s news of the alleged rape as “utterly sickening”, Ms Ley said “stronger action” was needed against “a crisis of violence against women” and to “rescue boys from misogyny”.

“All women and girls have a right to be kept safe. But today, women and girls often do not feel safe in their everyday lives, whether they are simply going for a run or catching public transport,” she said.

“That is just not good en­ough.

“More than 30 women have been killed in Australia already this year and countless more have been sexually assaulted. This is not OK and we must never accept it.

“We cannot become numb to violence.

“We must increase efforts to rescue boys from misogyny in our communities and online, and demand behavioural change among men.

“Women and girls have had enough as have so many good men who are stepping up too.

“We all have a role to play.

“I want women to be able to live their lives in safety and without fear and anxiety.”

Teach Us Consent founder Chanel Contos. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Chanel Contos, who founded Teach Us Consent, said pornography literacy needed to be included in the national school curriculum, arguing access to violent adult content that showed women being choked and raped was contributing to growing youth crime.

“For the first time, teenage boys are perpetrating sexual violence against children at a higher rate than adults against children,” she said.

“It’s a testament to the prevention work that Australia has done against child sexual abuse. But it is a big indicator that we do need to shift focus to look at what the growing issue is among teenage boys and why.

“The Australian government and also parents and educators need to look at pornography.

“The driving force that we can’t ignore in this conversation is how quickly pornography is accessible and used.”

Ms Contos, who accused influencers such as Tate of normalising “everyday misogyny” said the national curriculum was up for review next year and her organisation would be lobbying to have pornography literacy included.

Independent MP Allegra Spender urged the government to respond to “all the recommendations” of the rapid review to end gender-based violence, and address contributors to violence such as violent porn, “and take actions like reducing access to alcohol and banning online gambling ads”.

Deputy NSW Liberal leader Natalie Ward, who legally represented “hundreds of sexual abuse survivors”, said she was repulsed to hear of another alleged attack on a young woman.

“Victims get a life sentence and perpetrators don’t,” she said.

“There’s something wrong with that picture if we continue to accept it.”

REFORMS TO CLOSE SX CRIME LAW GAPS

Offenders accused of sexually assaulting a person who has died will be punished under tough new laws to stop perpetrators avoiding time behind bars.

The Saturday Telegraph can reveal the Minns government will introduce sweeping reforms to parliament next week in a bid to close gaps in existing legislation that have failed ­victims and survivors of sexual violence.

Under the proposed changes to the Crimes Act, sexual offenders will no longer be able to evade prosecution by exploiting a loophole that throws out the charge if its not clear whether the victim was dead or alive at the time of the crime.

Perpetrators will be sentenced regardless of whether the crime is sexual assault or interference with a dead body.

National Justice Project chief executive George Newhouse. Picture: John Feder

The reform is decades in the making after a coroner found 16-year-old Cindy Smith had been subjected to “some form of sexual interference” when she died with her cousin Mona in a car accident in 1987 near Bourke.

The charge was not pursued because it was not possible to prove beyond reasonable doubt whether Cindy was alive or dead at the time of the offence.

National Justice Project chief executive George Newhouse has worked with the Smith families for years to help them in their fight for justice.

“While this reform cannot bring back Cindy or Mona, if it passes, it will be a meaningful step forward and a powerful legacy of their lives,” Mr Newhouse said.

As part of the suite of reforms to bring NSW into line with other Australian jurisdictions, the government will raise the “age threshold” from 16 to 18 for child abuse material offences, strengthening protections for young people.

Laws criminalising female genital mutilation will also be strengthened to punish offenders regardless of the reason, motivation or age of the ­victim, while ensuring medically necessary practices are ­protected.

Originally published as Tanya Plibersek, Sussan Ley united in call for education of boys to stop violence against women