CQUni researcher joins applause for David Gallup following NRL stance
Published on 26 March, 2012
CQUniversity researcher Heather Nancarrow* is among Queensland Domestic Violence Services Network members who have applauded David Gallop for stating ‘a conviction involving violence against women is an issue that we take extremely seriously'.
The network members say 'now we need to see that sentiment put consistently into action with a ban on players who perpetrate violence against women'.
The Queensland Domestic Violence Services Network has made the following statement commending the National Rugby League for its stance against domestic and family violence in the recent Robert Lui case:
"Robert Lui is a talented rugby league player who was charged with nine counts of assault against his pregnant girlfriend after the Mad Monday celebrations of his former club, Wests Tigers, last year. Tigers released Lui from his contract after the assault.
"It is also heartening to see the media coverage of this incident. The initial tentatively congratulatory tone, which focused on Lui's move to the North Queensland Cowboys, has been replaced with a more balanced coverage condemning violence against women.
"This cultural shift is mainly due to the leadership shown by people such as David Gallop, chief executive of the NRL who was quoted as saying ‘Every case needs to be taken on its merits, but a conviction involving violence against women is an issue that we take extremely seriously'; and by Fox Sports rugby league expert and former Australia second-rower, Mark Geye, who said 'Let's put a stamp in the ground - the NRL or the independent commission, whoever's in charge of the game - to say that we don't want any more domestic violence'.
"Catherine Lumby, Journalism and Media Research Centre Director at the University of NSW, who advises the NRL pro bono on gender issues, said: 'We need to take a very dim view of domestic violence as a society'.
"She's right, we do. Let's hope this is the start of a cultural shift in all walks of life for the elimination of violence against women."
From Amanda Lee-Ross, Secretariat - On behalf of the Queensland Domestic Violence Services Network, phone 07 4033 6100.* Heather Nancarrow is Director of the Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research based at CQUniversity Mackay.