29 October 2022
Published 12 December 2019
Domestic violence is a scourge on Australian society with one woman is killed every nine days at the hands of a lover and a man is killed every 29 days.
Mayor Allan Sutherland says it’s a horror that Moreton Bay Region needs to start talking about.
“It’s a conversation we started to have when Rosie Batty was named Australian of the Year in 2015 and we need to look for ways to keep this issue front of mind,” he said.
“We’ve been compelled to act on this following a compelling presentation by Red Rose Foundation CEO Betty Taylor at this year’s LGAQ conference.
“The organisation’s initiative to have benches painted bright red are intended to stop people in their tracks, and read a plaque that prompts a conversation about domestic violence.
“I was dubious about the suggestion that painting a bench red might help curb domestic violence, but Betty convinced me that change always starts with a conversation.
“You might not have violence in your life but statistically speaking we all know someone who’s been directly affected and, to me, that’s a horrifying thought.
“In Australia one-in-six women and one-in-sixteen men will experience physical or sexual abuse at the hands of their partner.
“To ensure we have at least one red bench in each Division of the Moreton Bay Region, I’ll be asking Councillors to nominate a location for their bench and the community group they’d like to partner with to launch the initiative.
“Council will pay for the painting of benches and installation of plaques.”
The red bench initiative has already been rolled out by Councils in Brisbane, Toowoomba and Redlands among others.