Australians united at various marches, breakfasts and lunches today to raise awareness about violence against women on White Ribbon Day.
As the largest male-led movement on the planet, this year’s White Ribbon Day came with a national platform of awareness led by Australian of the Year and domestic violence victim Rosie Batty. With 28,000 incidents of domestic violence last year and 27 deaths in the NSW this year, NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said, “Domestic violence is a unique crime in that everyone owns it. It’s everybody’s business. It’s evidenced by the people here stepping out, particularly men today of all days is the day when we stand up and say it won’t be tolerated.” Thousands of people took to the streets this morning to participate in the annual White Ribbon Walk from Randwick to Coogee Beach.
QLD Public Service domestic violence victims to get leave
Annastacia Palaszczuk announced this morning that ten days of leave a year will be offered to Queensland public servants who are victims of domestic violence. “This will help them attend medical, legal and counselling appointments, and to arrange alternative accommodation and child care assistance,” Ms Palaszczuk said. The initiative comes on the morning of White Ribbon Day, where Ms Palaszczuk identified the domestic violence crisis as an “emergency”, further announcing a 15-person Domestic Violence Council to tackle the issue.
Shark attack prevention methods trialled
Coffs Harbour are leading the way in shark attack prevention with the first shark-tracking drone trial beginning today. Shark drum lines and shark-tracking drones are to be experimented across Northern NSW beaches, Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair has announced. The technology, which includes drum lines, GPS buoys and drones, has previously been used to monitor sharks in the waters of Reunion Island, east of Madagascar. Mike Baird said, “The experts have told us these are the technologies that have the potential to lead to a long-term solution to keep our beaches safe and minimise the impact on marine life.” The implementation comes after a series of attacks across the coastline this year, including the death of Japanese surfer Tadashi Nakahara at Shelly Beach.
Teenagers charged with stabbing 15-year-old
Two teens have been charged after allegedly stabbing a 15-year-old schoolboy on the Gold Coast yesterday afternoon. Police have charged one attacker with grievous bodily harm and armed robbery, and the second attacker with armed robbery. Paramedics found the student bleeding heavily on the ground 500m from his high school. The altercation is believed to have been fuelled by a social media argument, and comes ten days after the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Michael Brack.
Mother follows daughter to Schoolies
A mother of a “schoolie” has accompanied her daughter to Surfers Paradise to keep an eye on the safety of her teenage girl. Danni Conley and friends, Jemma Theisbrummel and Reagan White, are being followed by Kathy Conley, Danni’s mother who is attending Schoolies for the second year. Ms Conley said her elder daughter’s drink had been spiked in 2013 at the school leaver’s celebrations. “They are from the country and it’s really silly if parents think the kids can look after themselves in a place they don’t know,” she said. Donning a shirt proclaiming “Watch out Toolies – Parenting 101”, Ms Conley will be alongside her son on the Gold Coast glitter strip once again in 2016. – Compiled from online news sources by Olivia Grace-Curran
Top photo of a White Ribbon Day campaign sign by Jess Heckley.
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