A western metropolitan MP has called for “more respect” towards women in his submission to the Royal Commission on Family Violence.
Cesar Melhem has described the prevalence of domestic violence in Australia as “a national crisis demanding urgent action”.
He made four recommendations to the commission, urging education and awareness campaigns, more support for women, tougher penalties, and better diagnoses of the underlying causes of violence against women.
While Crime Statistics Agency data shows a 72 per cent increase in domestic violence reports in Melbourne’s west overall, this figure jumped 125 per cent in Melton during the four years to December 31, 2014.
Mr Melhem said the rates of domestic violence were a “stark reminder of the fundamental inequity that exists between men and women”.
“[This is] in spite of the fashionable, complacent view that feminism is over and gender equality is done and dusted,” Mr Melhem said.
“We need to be teaching men to respect women, and teaching men that violence against women is unacceptable.
“Part of the problem comes down to the disrespect some men exhibit towards women or the belief that women are less worthy than men.
“From this stems the belief that women can be owned by men, and that men are entitled to use force against women, to enforce obedience and establish control.”
The upper house MP called for tougher penalties for men who commit acts of violence against women, saying the rights of perpetrators “pale in comparison to the rights of their victims”.
“If that means adopting harsh penalties for first or early offences, then so be it,” Mr Melhem said.
“The state has no obligation to show leniency towards men who hit women. The state has every obligation to protect women being abused.”
Mr Melhem said the commission should also look into the role that poverty, unemployment, financial stress and mental health played in domestic violence incidents.
“I commend the commission for its work and eagerly await its findings so they can be put into action as soon as possible. People’s lives depend on it.”
The commission wrapped up its hearings on Friday, August 14, with the possibility of holding a limited number of hearings in mid-October.
