ROSIE Batty shared her powerful story with Mount Isa on Tuesday saying she wanted to ensure victims of domestic violence received the respect, support and safety they deserved.
THE 2015 Australian of the Year spoke at the Domestic Violence breakfast at the Buffs Club in front of 200 guests including Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart, Member for Mount Isa Robbie Katter, police superintendent Kev Guteridge and Mayor Joyce McCulloch.
Ms Batty recounted the terrible loss of her 11-year-old son Luke Batty who was murdered by his father Greg Anderson in 2014.
She said Anderson was a loving father and she defended his right to have contact with their son but he (Anderson) had a history of psychological abuse that was never treated.
“Luke’s death was an act of revenge and control,” she said. “He (Greg) chose not to kill me but wanted to make me suffer.”
Ms Batty said one in three women were affected by domestic violence and one in four children.
“Don’t think for a minute your children are safe from domestic violence,” she said.
Ms Batty said too often the onus of action was on victims, who often had to leave town, leave jobs, and set up a new life far from family and friends.
“Often that involves homelessness,” she said.
“It’s time to shift the focus to the perpetrator not the victim.”
Ms Batty said public awareness about domestic violence has to change the same way as public awareness changed other dangers like drink driving and passive smoking.
“Community attitudes can and do change,” she said.
“Family violence is everyone’s business and we need cultural changes to turn this round.”
Ms Batty said all domestic violence began with disrespect and that was why she was working with schools.
“I launched the Never Alone campaign for the Luke Batty Foundation on what would have been Luke’s 13th birthday,” she said.
“This campaign is to stand beside these victims of violence raising awareness so that they will never be alone.”