A radio host has delivered a scathing criticism of the nation’s response to violence against women following the death of 10 women in just one month.
The number of women killed in Australia this year rose to 26 on Wednesday morning after a woman was found dead inside her home in a NSW-Victoria border town.
Anger rippled through 2GB veteran radio host Ray Hadley’s voice as he spoke directly to the men tuned into his show on Wednesday.
“Men have got to talk to their sons about violence against women,” he said.
He accused NSW Premier Chris Minns and other politicians of making bold claims about how they will tackle the domestic violence problem that plagues the state but said it wasn’t working because more women were dying every week.
“You know, Chris Minns is saying, ‘I feel for the family. I feel for everyone. This is dreadful. It’s terrible’. Well, what have you ever done about it?” Hadley said.
“Not just you, Chris. Any of you. What have you done about it? You’ve done bugger all about it.
“As a result, another young woman is dead because you’ve done nothing about it.”
Earlier this week, Mr Minns announced he would meet with the state’s Attorney-General Michael Daley to discuss a review of bail legislation.
He said the Premier should not wait to lead the charge on reforming bail laws to prevent offending while on bail.
“You’d simply say, ‘I’m going to change the bail laws tomorrow’,” Hadley said.
“I’m not going to have another woman dead on my watch at the hands of a person before the courts.”
Hadley said he had been saying the “same bloody thing” for his almost three-decade radio career and “nothing ever happens”.
“If I sound angry, it’s because I am,” he said.
Hadley was deeply affected by the recent Bondi Junction stabbing rampage during which Joel Cauchi stabbed and killed five women and a male security guard who came to their aid.
Hadley answered a desperate phone call from long-time friend John Singleton, who suspected his 25-year-old daughter Dawn was killed during the attack.
“I got a text from Singo about half past six, pleading for me to ring him,” Hadley told listeners.
“Didn’t know what it was about, we’ve been mates for 30 years.”
Hadley said he rang the police commissioner and asked if she had the names of any of the victims.
“She said only one and confirmed that it was Dawn,” Hadley said.
Police Commissioner Karen Webb has said police are investigating whether violence against women was a motivator in the stabbing attack.