Over 1,500 Aussies Demand An Apology After Bill Leak’s DV-Diminishing Turd

Once again, cartoonist Bill Leak has needlessly hung shit on a group of vulnerable Australians – and the man is catching absolute hell for it. 

Today’s doodle, featured in The Australian, depicts a tradie imploring his other half to injure him with the end goal of landing weeks of paid leave:
Sure, it’s classist and demeaning, but it also uses domestic violence as a punchline. A punchline for a gag that, in itself, implies paid leave for victims is just a bit plush.

In response to that shitstirring message, Australians are calling for the paper to walk Leak’s view right the hell back. 

Over 1,500 people have already signed a petition asking for The Australian to apologise for that downright rubbish take, after organisers labeled the cartoon “a trivialisation of family violence in this country.”


They claim that not only is the cartoon wildly off-base, it’s also deliberately ignorant to the benefits of paid leave for DV survivors:

“Family violence leave gives survivors the time they need to visit the police, lawyers, doctors and go to court.

It gives them time to move home, take their children to new schools and escape the cycle of violence.”
We’ll be honest: after Leak and The Oz stood by his spectacularly unsubtle comparison of same-sex marriage advocates to Nazis, it’s unlikely campaigners will see any kind of response from the king troll of political cartoonists. 
Still, it would be nice if the paper recognised this ain’t about “starting a conversation” – it’s about not consistently and remorselessly punching down on at-risk Australians like an insipid goddamned edgelord.

 


Domestic violence is never okay. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence, call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732. If you are in immediate danger, call 000. If you feel you have ‘crossed the line’, contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 for anonymous and confidential telephone counselling. And for young men and women concerned about their own behaviour, call 1800 MYLINE on 1800 695 463.

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