Election 2025: Albanese urges teens to watch Netflix show Adolescence

West Australian

28-04-2025

Anthony Albanese has encouraged all schools to use the Netflix show Adolescence as a resource to educate boys on gender violence, saying it is 'absolutely so important' young people watch the program.
The acclaimed show depicts a family after their teenage son stabs a girl to death and the role social media played in the tragedy.
The Prime Minister, campaigning in Roberston on the NSW Central Coast on Monday, singled out the program as he announced more funding to fight domestic violence.
He said gendered and domestic violence were part of the reason for the government's social media ban preventing children under 16 from using platforms such as TikTok and X.
'One of the reasons why the social media ban is important is that young people, at a very young age, when they're developing, are exposed to some pretty hateful stuff out there, the rise of misogyny,' Mr Albanese said
He said he would encourage schools to show Adolescence to students, but wouldn't match a commitment made by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to make it free for schools.
'I encourage anyone to have a look at it. It's scary,' he said.
'These parents depicted not knowing what their young son, who they love, has engaged in.
'And there's a scene towards the end there where the father … says we thought he was safe.
'He was in his bedroom, we thought he was safe.
'Well, it's had tragic impact for him, but a worse impact for his victim and so this is something we need to have conversations about.'
Speaking more broadly on domestic violence, Mr Albanese said current efforts to reduce rates of gendered violence 'isn't working'.
'That's the truth. You know, we are not doing well enough as a society. This is a whole of society problem,' he said.
'Governments can take action, but it's whole of society problem. We need men as well to have conversations with each other, to call it out when they see unacceptable behaviour, to address it, have those conversations.'
However he said he was encouraged by bipartisan support for tackling the issue, which includes the National Plan to end Violence Against Women and Children in a generation.
He was asked directly about the death of 19-year-old Audrey Griffin, who was killed by repeat domestic violence offender Adrian Torrens after a night out with her friends.
Torrens was found dead at Silverwater Correctional Complex last week.
Mr Albanese said Ms Griffin's death was 'tragic and horrific'.
'My heart goes out to the family and the friends and loved ones of Audrey Griffin this announcement, of course, wouldn't have impacted on that,' he said.
'One death from violence against women is one too many, and this is just an enormous tragedy, and we continue to work through these issues.
'As I said before, this needs a whole of society response.'
The Prime Minister visited community housing provider Pacific Link Housing to announce the Coast Women's and Children's Trauma Recovery Centre in East Gosford, a new $20m initiative to help victims of domestic and sexual violence.
Just moments after Mr Albanese arrived for the media event, the Coalition also sent out a media release for the exact same $20m funding commitment.
Mr Dutton said he was committed to addressing the scourge.
'As a former police officer who attended numerous domestic violence call-outs, I know the
trauma and lifelong impacts that can occur as a result of these horrific crimes,' he said.
'A government I lead will be focused on delivering real change so that families, women and children are safer and we work toward reducing the impact of family and domestic violence.'
Domestic Violence helplines