Syllabus Topic
Option 3: Family
Responses to problems in family relationships
the roles of:
- the media
INTRODUCTION
The media often brings attention to shocking stories of family violence, which serve as a stark reminder of the severe and unacceptable consequences these actions can have. While such coverage can raise public awareness and drive calls for reform, there is a delicate balance to maintain. Courts must protect the privacy of those involved in family law disputes, often restricting how details of these sensitive cases are shared. This article examines the powerful role the media plays in shaping public perceptions and influencing legal responses to family law issues, while also addressing the ethical considerations surrounding privacy and sensationalism.
CASE STUDY - ROSIES STORY
On Monday, 14 July 2014, eleven-year-old Luke Batty was brutally killed by his father during a mid-week cricket practice, right in front of his mother, Rosie Batty, and others present. The tragedy unfolded in what seemed like a safe, public setting, illustrating the unpredictable and pervasive nature of family violence. As Rosie later reflected, "For some reason, I thought he was safer in an open space with people around, and then you realize that you're not safe."
Within hours of the attack, Luke's father, Greg Anderson, was also dead, where he was shot in the chest by police when he threatened them at the scene. This incident, covered extensively by national media, brought the often-hidden scourge of family violence into the public eye in a visceral and undeniable way.
The tragedy was featured on the investigative journalism program Four Corners, where Geoff Thompson reported on the systemic issues surrounding family violence. The program's coverage of the event sparked a sustained national conversation, revealing the inadequacies in existing protective systems, such as the Department of Community Services (DOCS), police interventions, and child protection services.
Rosie Batty had long struggled to cope with the escalating violence of her son's father. Despite reaching out to various authorities—police, courts, child protection, and social workers—the system failed to provide adequate protection for her and her son. As Rosie poignantly noted, "His behavior was never going to… put him away, but you can't help but think that some intervention may have been just enough for him to rethink, or maybe enough of a red flag for me to understand what acute danger Luke and I were in."
The media's in-depth coverage of this case, particularly through a national platform like Four Corners, played a crucial role in catalyzing public discourse and governmental action. The intense scrutiny led to a widespread call for reforms and prompted governmental inquiries into the efficacy of the systems designed to protect victims of domestic violence, particularly the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence in 2015 that has contributed to the current schemes being put in place. As Ken Lay, the then-Victorian Police Commissioner, remarked, "...when you need to look someone in the eye like Rosie and hear how the system dealt with her and understand how the system may have let some of those people down, it's very, very confronting."
Through this powerful case study, the media not only highlighted the personal tragedies caused by family violence but also exposed the systemic failures, pushing for a much-needed overhaul of how such cases are managed and prompting a national reevaluation of the protections available to victims, where Batty continues to be successful as an advocate in this regard.
SOURCES
ABC NEWS: Rosie's Story Documentary
Monash University: The Batty effect: How one woman changed the conversation on domestic violence
The Conversation: Victoria has implemented all 227 recommendations from its royal commission into family violence. So was it a success?
The Guardian: NSW government to announce urgent reforms to address crisis of male violence against women
The Mandarin: Rosie Batty’s hope for new justice system approaches to domestic and family violence
ABC NEWS: Rosie Batty calls on federal government to provide consistent funding on family violence
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