The Victorian Government has appointed Australia’s first Parliamentary Secretary for Men’s Behaviour Change.
Premier Jacinta Allan announced the role on Tuesday. It’s part of the state’s response to a spike in domestic violence rates.
The position will be filled by Victoria’s current Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Tim Richardson.
Richardson’s new role is expected to focus “on boys’ and men’s attitudes towards women”. This includes the influence that social media and the internet has on behaviour.
Secretary for Men’s Behaviour Change
The Premier said Richardson will work alongside Family Violence Prevention Minister Vicki Ward to end “the tragedy of deaths of Victorian women at the hands of men.”
It follows the alleged murders of three women in the Victorian town of Ballarat this year.
Richardson said: “The time to act on men’s violence against women is now and it starts with us men and boys.”
Victoria’s Liberal Opposition said it didn’t have “any opposition” to the appointment.
