Premier congratulates newest White Ribbon Ambassadors

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk congratulated African community leaders and senior Queensland police officers who were inducted as White Ribbon Ambassadors at a Parliament House reception today. 

The men have joined thousands of others throughout Australia working to prevent violence against women. 

“It is time for the good men of Queensland to stand together and say no to domestic and family violence in our community,” Ms Palaszczuk said. 

“It is time to say enough is enough. And, today I commend our new ambassadors – all good men – for doing just that.” 

The Premier said it was inspiring to see community leaders and senior police officers, including Deputy Commissioner Brett Pointing, commit to become White Ribbon “champions of change”. 

Deputy Commissioner (Regional Operations) Pointing is already the Queensland Police Service’s Champion of Best Practice in prevention and first response to domestic and family violence. 

Queensland Chairman of the White Ribbon Committee, Chiu-Hing Chan welcomed the involvement of respected leaders from Queensland’s diverse African communities, “as part of a continued effort to break the silence on domestic violence across multicultural Australia”. 

During the 2014-2015 financial year, police were called to deal with domestic violence 200 times a day across the state. 

“Domestic and family violence must be addressed by the community as a whole, which is why we partner for change with organisations such as White Ribbon,” Ms Palaszczuk said. 

“By modelling respectful behaviours, whether you are at home or at work, or out and about in your neighbourhoods and communities, you can have a real impact on our young people. 

“You can ‘be the change’ we need to see in our society.” 

The White Ribbon Campaign is the world’s largest male-led movement to end men’s violence against women, originating in Canada in 1991 and spreading to Australia in 2003. 

The Palaszczuk Government has recently introduced new domestic violence laws, including tougher penalties for breaches of domestic violence orders. The government has also committed to implementing all 140 recommendations of the Not Now, Not Ever taskforce report into family and domestic violence. 

The new White Ribbon ambassadors include:  

• Paul Kagi
• Keith Shangare
• Henry Kon
• Deputy Commissioner Brett Pointing (Brisbane)
• Inspector Chris Emzin (Brisbane)
• Inspector Michael Miley (Sunshine Coast)
• Assistant Commissioner Bob Gee (Brisbane)
• Detective Inspector Darrin Shadlow (Rockhampton)
• Inspector Paul Fitch (Brisbane)
• Inspector Rhys Wildman (Brisbane)
• Inspector Les Bulluss (Brisbane)
• Inspector Ben Marcus (Toowoomba)
• Detective Inspector Marc Hogan (Gold Coast)
• James McKay (Brisbane)
• Inspector Peter Stacey (Brisbane)
• Supt Craig Hanlon (Gold Coast
• Detective Superintendent Darryl Johnson (Brisbane)

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