- Research has shown that domestic violence increases during Origin
- The NRL and government have been urged to act.
- The first match begins on Wednesday, June 5.
State of Origin nights see a 40 per cent increase in domestic assaults and around a 70 per cent increase in non-domestic assaults, surprising new research has found.
Rugby league administrators have been urged to do more to stop the worrying trend outlined by the Alcohol Research and Education Foundation, with the first game of this year’s series starting next week.
MP Zali Steggall outlined the shocking figures, drawn from six years of data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, in this week’s Question Time.
“To the Prime Minister,” he began.
Domestic Violence Increases Approximately 40 Percent During Home State
MP Zali Steggall outlined this worrying trend during question time this week.
‘Next week on State of Origin game night, statistics show women and children in New South Wales are almost 40 per cent more likely to experience domestic violence.
‘Alcohol and gambling are known drivers of domestic violence, and government violence prevention frameworks in Australia have been reluctant to address the multibillion-dollar alcohol and gambling industries.
‘When will your government take greater action to regulate these harmful industries to keep Australian women safe in this national crisis and encourage greater prevention strategies from sporting codes like the NRL?’
The research analyzed statistics from Wednesday nights, two weeks before the first Origin game of each series, until two weeks after the final game, uncovering the worrying trend.
White Ribbon CEO Brad Chilcott has told fans to be wary of aggression from their peers and themselves towards women.
“Thousands of fans are looking forward to tonight’s match, but sadly we know we can also expect an increase in male violence and abuse of women,” he said.
‘Support services and experts are concerned that the pressures of COVID and associated lockdowns could increase the danger of abuse by men and disrespect towards women, which has been shown to increase around the time of marriage. the main football matches.
‘It is the responsibility of every man to take an active role to prevent it.
“I ask all men, and especially all football fans, to be especially vigilant in calling out disrespect and sexism when they see it over the next two months.”
In 2018, Michael Thorn of the Alcohol Research and Education Foundation said there was a link between the Origin games and an increase in domestic violence.
“The drivers of domestic violence are complex and many, yet disturbing findings…suggest that the State of Origin’s particular celebration of excessive alcohol consumption, masculinity, tribalism and the toxic level of aggressive promotion of alcohol have collided in such a way that “Encourage excessive alcohol consumption and domestic violence,” he stated.
The first match of this year’s series begins on Wednesday, June 5 in Sydney.