Politicians need to step up: Rosie Batty

POLITICIANS must stop making sexist or inappropriate comments if Australia wants to change community attitudes towards family violence, Rosie Batty says.

THE anti-violence campaigner believes attitudes have changed since her son Luke was murdered by his father in February 2014.

But education about healthy relationships needs to start as early as kindergarten, and awareness needs to carry though to political leaders, she says.
“I think as a society we have become very aware of some of the sexist and inappropriate attitudes of some of the leaders in our country,” Ms Batty told the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
She feels Australians are increasingly making it known they won’t tolerate politicians who are seen as being out of touch.
“We hear those statements and we don’t like them,” she said.
When asked by reporters outside the commission whether she was referring to Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Ms Batty said she meant all political leaders.
“A lot of our political leaders inadvertently express personal opinions and they hang there and we know that they’re out of touch, or inappropriate, or they could be better placed,” she said.
Ms Batty believes the backlash over what politicians say about the relationship between men, women and families is a sign that community awareness is improving.
“As a society we’re evolving, we’re expecting more,” she said. “We understand and we’re starting to see that gender imbalance and sexist comments.”
She’s noticed that more people are willing to address judgmental attitudes toward victims of family violence, whether it’s in the workplace or with friends.
“Men stepping up and holding other men accountable is extremely powerful,” Ms Batty said.

From the www.theaustralian.com.au