 
Domestic violence
NSW Rape Crisis Centre executive officer Karen Willis repeats the discredited claim that domestic violence is about masculinity (”Mosman woman’s death puts spotlight on domestic violence”, April 26).
Research shows domestic violence is most prevalent among young people and is linked to social disadvantage, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health issues, and inadequate conflict management and emotional regulation skills. ”Masculinity” simply cannot account for the one in three reported victims of domestic assault in NSW who are male, nor the one in five offenders who are female. We won’t reduce domestic violence rates by incorrectly identifying the causes.
Greg Andresen senior researcher, One in Three Campaign
Mosman woman’s death puts spotlight on domestic violence
It was the horrific end to an already terrible tale. The death of 32-year-old Mosman resident Kate Malonyay was followed a few days later by her ex-boyfriend Elliott Coulson plunging to his death from a Gold Coast hotel. NSW police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding both deaths.
A police officer was reportedly present when Mr Coulson fell to his death from the hotel’s 26th floor, and attempted to grab the man’s arm before he fell.
Ms Malonyay also reportedly called police this year after a domestic incident. Friends who spoke to Fairfax Media did not believe she had been hurt previously, but questions have been raised about the nature of their volatile relationship that ended at Christmas.
Fatal end to relationship: Kate Malonyay and Elliot Coulson. Photo: Supplied
Statistics show a victim is often attacked by the person closest to them, with 43 per cent of the 115 females and 100 males killed [emphasis ours] in domestic homicides in NSW between 2003 and 2008 attacked by their partner.
Over three-quarters of offenders in all domestic homicides were male, the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research report showed. In 2010, almost half of all domestic assaults were inflicted by a man on his female partner.
NSW Rape Crisis Centre executive officer Karen Willis said in incidents of domestic violence people often ask ”why doesn’t she leave?” but the question should really be ”why doesn’t he stop?”
”It’s about masculinity and how men make meaning of themselves and their lives and their role and position,” Ms Willis said. ”The majority of men do that in non-violent and excellent ways. What they need to do is encourage the minority to step up to the mark.”
Ms Willis said it was often psychological dominance that made it difficult for victims to see a way to escape abuse.
”The message needs to be: domestic violence is unacceptable, the offender is responsible. The offender’s behaviour is wrong here.”
The statistics showed domestic assaults and homicides have been relatively stable since 2003, while non-domestic assaults, murders and killings declined.
Ms Willis said the stability in the rates of the domestic crimes showed there was more to be done, in particular making communication between agencies like police and health and welfare services much easier.
Minister for Women Pru Goward said the government was developing a domestic violence framework that would address privacy laws to make communication between agencies more effective. Police now issue their own apprehended domestic violence orders, which Ms Goward said would make a difference.
”We are increasingly focused on getting women to stick with their court process and have men charged with assault.”
Domestic violence line: 1800 65 64 63
Lifeline: 131 114
You have made some decent points there. I checked on the internet for more info about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this web site.
The only real solution will come when we all grow up and admit that violence is simply not a crime. Unless it causes maiming.
“An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; break for break.” Many people think that this is a harsh standard, but it really just means that the state/police/courts have no authority in matters of “assault”, unless there has been a maiming.
Women will cut themselves and bruise themselves, all the time, to create a false police report of domestic violence. But, no women are breaking their own bones and putting their own eyes out, to make a false accusation.
Domestic violence is not wrong. Bar fights are not wrong. Somebody slapping you because you let your mouth run away with you again, is not wrong. Cops use violence every day, just to get people to do what they want them to do. None of them is charged with a crime of violence. They could once-in-a-million be charged with “excessive force”. When are we going to realize that all men, likewise, should never be charged with using force… but only if it was excessive? (Excessive means broken bone, eye put out, etc.)
Government has no authority over normal human physical interactions, unless people maim one another. Then it becomes a community issue.