Dear Shire of Ashburton. I think you should know Ben Cousins threatened to bury his wife in her car and to bring her children by so she could hear them playing as she suffocated to death. He also told her: 'I am going to kill you. I'm going to take your life and freedom and the things you love the most'. He was convicted on a charge of aggravated stalking and he breached a domestic violence order more than 20 times. I can only surmise that you have no idea of Cousins' history of domestic violence given you've booked him to be the guest speaker at a community awards night. This includes having him present an award to young people - that's a really shit decision given the children of abusers are also victims. Would you like the boys and young men in your community to aspire to be Ben Cousins or would you like them to respect women? I notice the council provides support for local anti-violence campaigns and for organisations working with domestic violence victim-survivors. All of this good work disappears when you platform domestic violence perps. You may not have noticed, but Australia has lost 55 women to violence this year and all but three were killed by men. Male violence against women is increasing but you are sending a message to young men and boys that hurting women is no impediment to glorification. If Cousins take the stage on your big night, you will be telling women that our concerns about male violence are nothing compared to this man's public standing.

An father has been charged with killing his three-month-old son at Ipswich, Queensland. Police launched an investigation when the baby was brought to Ipswich Hospital with significant internal injuries last week. He is the 22nd Australian child killed this year. Last year we lost 27 children to Violence. ❤️ABOUT THE COUNT❤️ I document all Australian women & children lost to murder, manslaughter, neglect and other unlawful acts regardless of perpetrator gender or relationship to the victim. This means not all women and children killed are lost to domestic violence. They are also killed by people known to them (ie friends) or by strangers. My work includes Australians killed overseas. Every death is documented at AustralianFemicideWatch.org/… (link in bio).

NSW Police are investigating after a body was found in stock dip on a property yesterday. Police were called to a property on Kyogle Road at Terragon, about 20km south-west of Murwillumbah, after the body was seen partially submerged in a livestock trough. Police believe the body is that of a woman. A number of women have been missing in the region for a significant amount of time this year. A crime scene is in place and post-mortem examination will be conducted in coming days to determine the person's identity and cause of death. Anyone with information is urged to contact Tweed Heads Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Parents are petitioning Scots College over its response to the rape of a 14-year-old girl, allegedly by three male students. STORY: australianfemicidewatch.org/…