The man Tony Abbott hand-picked as his Parliamentary Secretary like a teenager picks a booger out of his nose, has once again gone and upset people with his alternative views on morality. Views that weren’t quite so alternative a couple of centuries ago.
Alas it must have been a blow to Abbott to have to sack his chosen man after public pressure when another scandal made it hard for Abbott to continue what had been his unwavering support.
Yes Cory Bernardi has been engaging in conversation again, something that is always destined to cause offence.
Some of the things Cory Bernardi has graced us with his lack of wisdom on previously include abortion, same-sex marriage, the burqa and bestiality. He also acted as a tour guide for the European preacher of hate Geert Wilders while he was in Ausralia to promote his racist and anti-Islamic stance and hate speech.
This time Bernadi has chosen to wade into deep waters with what would appear to be rather primitive views on domestic violence.
Bernardi’s comments were reported in some sections of the media as a claim that having a woman in a headlock does not count as domestic violence. Earlier reporting along these lines cannot be found online anymore, not by me at any rate.
Fairfax reported the comments in this way;
“Senator Bernardi made his original comments during a Senate inquiry into domestic violence on Thursday, following a witnesses description of bite injuries to a man that could only have resulted from him holding his partner in a headlock.
The South Australian senator then questioned whether the incident was necessarily domestic violence, saying police also use restraint techniques such as headlocks.”
Bernardi has since stated that he was not condoning domestic violence or justifying it in any way.
Cory Bernardi – Giving headlocks the thumbs up… Image News Ltd
Some of you may be stunned that I am willing to give Bernardi the benefit of the doubt, I actually believe that he is not seeking to excuse domestic violence at all, not his view of domestic violence at any rate.
So I guess the question really is what does Bernardi define as domestic violence?
Maybe Bernardi’s view of domestic violence is the problem. He may not see his comments as an endorsement of domestic violence while those of us living in the real world do.
If this is the case and being held in a headlock is not a form of domestic violence in Bernardi’s mind because police use it as a restraint technique, then let’s look at some of the other things that may pass muster as appropriate behaviour at Camp Cory given they are restraint methods used by police.
Beatings:
Police carry batons to use as a means to restrain someone. Perhaps Bernardi would recommend those whose wives are giving them lip pick themselves up a baton online or at a disposal store. Police are often seen in footage swinging batons in wild abandon into the public, particularly at peaceful protests. Perhaps this is a procedure that Bernardi would advocate husbands to take up to get their houses in order?
Restraints:
A woman’s hand gestures can be a terrifying sight.
When police feel threatened they often use handcuffs or quite often cable-ties. Used in conjunction with the baton or headlock technique this may be quite useful in pacifying the aggressive partner.
Given it is standard procedure for police, that would likely mean that Cory is down with it…
Cable ties can be purchased at most hardware or stationary stores, and handcuffs can be purchased at all good adult sex shops (I’m reliably informed).
The handcuffs are fine, but I believe Cory may frown on the pink fluff
Incarceration:
When a perpetrator is particularly troublesome police often lock them up. This is a method often used after aforementioned baton beating and restraint techniques.
Perhaps Bernardi would suggest those experiencing relationship problems purchase or rent homes with a cellar, a dungeon, or a large and well soundproofed shed for this restraint technique.
It should be noted here that the “Death in custody” technique is not an officially endorsed police procedure and should be avoided at all costs.
Electric Shock
Most police are now equipped with Taser guns which is another method of restraint commonly used when police feel threatened or when occasionally when they have a foreign backpacker cornered.
This is a tricky method to use for the man at home as Taser guns are not readily available for purchase.
Perhaps Cory may suggest some other means of electric shock restraint, I’m not going to attempt to concoct one.
Shooting
Actually gunning someone down in a hail of bullets is something that police only use as a last possible resort, but it is a police method of restraint.
Although actually shooting and killing someone to restrain them in a domestic situation my pass the smell test at Camp Cory as it is something that police do. In the real world I would certainly advise against it despite the possible Bernardi blessing.
Bernardi shows he has a lot of supporters behind him
To those who think that I am making light of domestic violence, that is not my aim. My aim is to highlight the utter ridiculousness of the logic that has seemingly been applied by someone who is a prominent member of parliament and an unfortunately vocal member of the Liberal Party. The Liberal Party must cringe every time Bernardi opens his mouth, I certainly do.
These comments made by Bernardi were made during a Senate Committee into domestic violence. The aim of the committee was to identify possible ways of reducing the amount of domestic violence that is occurring with frightening regularity all over this nation. Attitudes like those seemingly expressed by Bernardi certainly do not help to reduce the problem and may only serve to further distress those who are victims of this cowardly crime.
With White Ribbon day fast approaching it is vital that we reinforce the fact that there is no excuse for domestic violence whatsoever, and no place in a civilised society for those who make excuses for it.
And that dear readers is absolutely no joke.
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Peter I understand your use of humour & the ridiculous to lionise such a bizarre stance as Bernardi’s. As a survivor of abuse (not DV) I found myself cringing at the thought that some men might actually take your suggestions literally. I also found the extent of detail in your “humorous” suggestions somewhat triggering. Please consider taking a second look. I think you’ve gone too far.
With respect,
Kristin
Kristin Gillespie
May I respectfully note that my reading of this article was quite different from yours. On first reading I didn’t note any humour, going back after your comment I noted (at most) black humour used to emphasise a very serious point: If, in Barnardi’s logic, ‘the police do it’ makes it OK, all those other methods which are sometimes used by police would by analogy by OK in domestic relationships – a completely ridiculous proposition which was the main message I took from the article.
Apart from the seriousness of the message intended by the article, it is interesting to see how different people have different interpretations of the same material.
Naturally we all come to what we read from different perspectives and therefore interpret things differently.
My point is that Peter has gone into unnecessary detail in his comparison. It’s like a tv doco on abuse zooming in & dwelling on the violence – at what point does it cross over from helpful/informative to voyeurism/potential encouragement?
Kristin
As a domestic violence victim I see the article for what it is *Reality*. Those who harm others, do so at their own free will. Those who suggest that it may be due to articles or docos need a reality check! If we don’t say it, write it, or tell it how it is, then we are only part of the problem, not the solution.
Why make such a comment. Is he suggesting some of the woman they are talking about could have been out of control. Suggest he is.
Thanks for your viewpoint Nic, I appreciate your honesty & courage in sharing it. I guess part of my reaction comes from a deeply felt sense that we live in a culture where violence is so much the norm – in movies, games, press etc that it feeds a societal sense of this being ok, so we are inured instead of being shocked by it. I think it contributes to the bystander mentality.
Kind regards,
Kristin
It is nevertheless a hard subject to find funny.
Kristin I would respectfully suggest that the article triggers responses in you that are a result of your domestic violence experience.
The nature of Post Traumatic Stress is that triggers to extreme emotional responses can be difficult for others to see and this is why that aspect of domestic violence is so devastating because loss of safety and trust in just being alive are so hard to overcome
I did myself find ridicule the only bearable response to some of the appalling things members of this government are inflicting quite consciously on our society and find act like the cuts to womens refuges an act of total moral bankruptcy .
I find Peter very effective at expressing outrage with a certain trench humour because his facts are always well researched and I believe his ethics are honest
The Bernardi’s and Abbott’s are are our own Taliban or ISIS, a return to the dark ages.
If they have their way it won’t be ironic to compare domestic violence to ‘using reasonable force’ it will be a comparison to deaths in custody in the prison of marriage
Women will again be owned by men dependent on men totally at the will of men.
it is not that far in our past it seems many men miss it
Their churches support that view
I dont support domestic violence in any form. I attended several scenes of domestic violence during one of my careers. Both genders can inflict it. Both genders are affected by it. The majority of times it is a male offender, sometimes it is a woman. Imagine my surprise when it happened to me once. I vowed never again, and left the relationship. It wasnt because it was my wife who hit me, rather it was because I took the beating to stop her from hitting the kids and wanted to protect them.
The most tragic thing about domestic violence is in a lot of cases both parties think it is natural for it to happen, sort of like Cory. What sort of domestic environment did he grow up in to think like that. No I didnt think Peters article was offensive, all it did was ridicule the views held by Cory. For a very valid reason
Hi Kristin,
I’m sorry if you think I have gone into unnecessary detail, but I think to highlight the ridiculousness of Bernardi’s comments it was the best way of expressing it.
I don’t think I have zoomed in or highlighted violence at all although I considered using images of police brutality and decided against it.
As for what point being voyeuristic and dwelling on violence becomes helpful I would say it is often helpful.
One of the films that brought domestic violence out as a major issue was Once Were Warriors, this was achieved not by tiptoeing around the issue but by throwing it in the audiences face in a graphic manner. I don’t think anybody who saw that film was encouraged to abuse their partner.
I know that Once Were Warriors is fiction, so if we look at the impact of real life graphic and highly disturbing footage of violence you need look no further than the footage on 4 Corners in the Indonesian abattoirs. This matter had been discussed for ages in a sensible manner with absolutely no result whatsoever. After some disturbing footage on TV the nation rallied and shamed the government into acting. As a result there were industry changes adopted that have seen more humane treatment of animals.
That I do find encouraging
Peter it is most concerning that you can no longer find a reference online. Has it been censored? Is Hansard the only record we will have of this heinous behaviour?