Family Court chief justice uses State of Origin to send message against domestic violence

Australia Broadcast Center

18-06-2025

At a time when family and domestic violence reports spike, the chief justice of the Family Court of Australia saw the State of Origin series as an opportunity to send a powerful message.
Thousands of passionate rugby league fans flocked to Perth Stadium on Wednesday to watch the New South Wales Blues take on the Queensland Maroons.
A crowd approaching 60,000 saw Queensland withstand a late New South Wales charge in rainy conditions to hold on for a 26-24 win, levelling the series at 1-1.
But before the game unfolded, projected on the massive screens around the ground, was a short clip with a strong message.
"All men have a role to play in ending violence towards women," Blues captain Isaah Yeo said down the barrel of the camera.
"Let's lead by example and show our young children and young men that violence is not OK," Maroons player Harry Grant concluded.
The star-studded video was a necessary move, according to advocates, considering the alarming increase in FDV reports following major sports events.
Family Court Chief Justice William Alstergren spearheaded the campaign, which featured the likes of Hugh Jackman, Eric Bana, and Hamish Blake.
After more than seven years at the head of jurisdiction across Australia, the chief justice saw a way to trigger change.
"Every day I come into court, I see cases where families are just torn apart by family and domestic violence," he said.
The game plan was simple — speak to young boys and men through their interests and role models to break the vicious cycle of violence.
"Having the captains of both teams, people who they highly admire sharing the message, might be the first time those kids actually hear that message," Chief Justice Alstergren said.
"They may not hear it at home, they may not hear it at school.
"It's not about calling people out, it's about calling them in.
"Saying, let's be part of the process, all of our men, let's be leaders and actually take responsibility for it."
A similar campaign was played during an AFL game at the MCG.
"You had 83,000 people in the stadium, and you could hear a pin drop," Chief Justice Alstergren said.
Australian research has shown reports of family and domestic violence can increase by up to 40 per cent after major sports events.
"For women and children living with an abuser, when there are big games, football games and rugby games, it can really heighten their sense of fear," the CEO of the Centre for Women's Safety and Wellbeing, Alison Evans, said.
"While football and rugby doesn't actually cause family and domestic violence, it can really heighten the frequency and the severity when we have such big games occurring."
Ms Evans said the damning statistics provide an opportunity and responsibility for sports associations and players to speak up.
"There's a strong likelihood that there's a lot of victim survivors in the crowd, as well as people choosing to abuse their loved ones," she said.
"Children who are hearing those messages coming from players that [they're] often idolising … imagine how they would be feeling to know that they are not alone."