Di Glover, the CEO of specialist homelessness and domestic violence support service Yes Unlimited, has condemned comments by Pauline Hanson (inset). Photo: Supplied.
The head of Albury women’s refuge Betty’s Place has slammed One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s comments on domestic and family violence, arguing they could contribute to attitudes that put women and children’s lives at risk.
Di Glover, the CEO of specialist homelessness and domestic violence support service Yes Unlimited, condemned as “dangerous” comments made by Senator Hanson earlier this week when she described domestic violence as a “two-way street”.
During the radio interview, Senator Hanson acknowledged domestic violence was a “scourge” but suggested if women were “getting abused by men out there”, they should simply leave and not put up with it.
Her statements have sparked a storm of outrage from advocacy groups, support services, policymakers and many politicians who claim her comments shift the blame from perpetrators and downplay the difficulties victims face trying to leave.
Ms Glover said she was angered and disappointed by the senator’s comments, saying they showed “a complete lack of understanding” of the difficulties victims faced trying to leave a violent relationship.
“It implies that women’s experience of domestic violence is somehow part of the problem; it blames the victim and turns the focus away from calling out men’s bad behaviour,” Ms Glover said on Friday (24 July).
“If people start to believe – or indeed adopt – this type of attitude then we are making no inroads in preventing domestic and family violence happening in the first place. It will put more women and children’s lives at risk.”
Ms Glover, who has worked in this space for the past 27 years, added her voice to the growing chorus of concerns from advocates warning that the most dangerous period for a woman was when they left an abusive partner.
“That is when we see femicide happening – this is not opinion, these are the facts!” Ms Glover said.
“What is also fact is that it is overwhelmingly females who are the victims of intimate partner and domestic homicide.”
Previous comments made by Senator Hanson late last year, in which she argued among other things that police were spending too much time investigating domestic violence, have also resurfaced.
“Domestic violence takes up about 75 per cent of police officers’ time now,” Senator Hanson said on the Broken Fathers podcast. “That’s why we’re not dealing with real crime out there. The whole thing needs to be wound back.”
Ms Glover said such comments were deeply damaging. “It is no less a crime to hit or abuse your wife or partner than it is to hit or attack a stranger,” she stated.
But she added that domestic and family violence encompassed a complex range of coercive, controlling, and abusive behaviours that went beyond physical harm and made it difficult for many women to leave.
“Often it’s not a choice,” Ms Glover stated.
“For example women experiencing coercive control can have their finances restricted, are often isolated and cut off from friends and family or support networks, have their calls or social media monitored, or their children and even pets threatened.
“Women are also often making the choice between staying in a violent relationship or homelessness.”
Ms Glover acknowledged that it often took many attempts before a woman was able to safely leave a relationship where there was family and domestic violence.
“It’s not as simple as you just leave,” she said in reference to Senator Hanson’s statements.
“We work with a lot of women who are still in domestic violence around making a plan. That plan involves ensuring finances are in place, that there is an escape kit of essentials, that the timing is right, that the children are safe … because of the danger that comes with leaving.”
Calls for a royal commission into violence against women have been made after four women were killed in four days earlier this month. On average one woman is killed by an intimate partner or family member every 11 days in Australia.
In 2024, Yes Unlimited reported a critical and “unprecedented” increase in the number of women seeking help for family and domestic violence on the Border.
Ms Glover said her agency was still seeing eight to 10 women a week presenting after a domestic violence assault, and those numbers were not abating.
“The crisis has not been averted – I think it’s getting worse,” she said.
On Monday (20 July) the region’s new purpose-built core and cluster crisis refuge, developed in partnership with Yes Unlimited and Housing Plus, was officially opened at Albury.
The redeveloped Betty’s Place, which includes seven new self-contained units with on-site staff and supports in a central multipurpose building, has been delivered as part of the NSW Government’s $426.6 million program to expand crisis accommodation and provide on-site specialist support for women and children fleeing violence.
Senator Hanson’s office and One Nation’s Federal Member for Farrer David Farley were both contacted for comment.
To find out more about the local supports offered through Yes Unlimited visit their website.
If you or someone you know is impacted by family and domestic violence, support is available through Lifeline on 13 11 14; Men’s Referral Service on 1300 776 491; Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800; beyondblue on 1300 224 636; and 1800-RESPECT, 1800 737 732.
