NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said there had been 27 domestic-related homicides across NSW in the past 12 months. To paraphrase my metro colleague Annabel Crabb, if a man was killed by a shark every second week, we’d arrange to have the ocean drained.

According to Superintendent Michael Rowan, the local police receive about four domestic-violence calls every day. 1800 calls last year. Clearly we’re at a crisis-point and unless we take decisive action the numbers will only rise. 

Just so we’re clear, domestic and family violence includes not just physical violence but also emotional and financial abuse.  Sadly, the most dangerous place for a woman seems to be not on the street at 3am, but in her own home. The place where we’re supposed to feel safe has become dangerous ground for some.

Mention the word paedophile and you get reactions of disgust and outrage. However, talk about a wife-beater and you still get people willing to blame the victim.

Enough is enough. Men aren’t animals, able to be provoked into lashing out like some rabid dog. There’s a series of choices, albeit very poor ones, which lead to committing an act of violence against a loved one. It’s time to make better choices.

-STEPHEN MUDD