As a headquarters for domestic violence research, CQUniversity recently helped promote a statement by Queensland Domestic Violence Services Network members, helping spark an online petition which has collected thousands of signatures.

The DV network members applauded National Rugby League (NRL) chief executive David Gallop for stating ‘a conviction involving violence against women is an issue that we take extremely seriously'. These network members said 'now we need to see that sentiment put consistently into action with a ban on players who perpetrate violence against women'.

  LINK for the original DV network statement

In the wake of the statement, more than 21,600 people have signed a petition on Change.org calling for NRL boss David Gallop to introduce automatic one year bans for domestic violence.

Following the Robert Lui affair*, thousands of Australians are joining a Wests Tigers fan in calling on the NRL to automatically ban any player found guilty of assaulting women.

Young Dad Tony Simpson has started a petition on Change.org demanding that NRL boss David Gallop take a tougher stand on domestic violence. Within 48 hours, more than 2000 people had signed the petition and shared it on social media.

Tony's Change.org petition calls for players found guilty of assaulting women to be automatically suspended for a year.

* In the Robert Lui case, the North Queensland Cowboys player pleaded guilty to an assault on his partner at the end of a 'Mad Monday' drinking session. Lui has been "suspended indefinitely" by the Cowboys, but Tony says the only way players will get the message about domestic violence is if their livelihood is directly threatened by an immediate, automatic one-year ban.

For live signature updates on Tony's petition:
https://www.change.org/petitions/tell-the-nrl-stop-letting-players-get-away-with-assaulting-women

For more information on Change.org, please visit:
http://www.change.org/about