The Shire of Ashburton is employing Ben Cousins to teach football to children and to be the star at its community awards nights across its region.
Cousins threatened to bury his wife in her car and to bring her children by so she could hear them playing as she suffocated to death.
He also told her: ‘I am going to kill you. I’m going to take your life and freedom and the things you love the most’.
He was convicted on a charge of aggravated stalking and he breached a domestic violence order more than 20 times.
Appointing Cousins to the role with his history of domestic violence is appalling.
The council provides support for local anti-violence campaigns and for organisations working with domestic violence victim-survivors.
All of this good work disappears when they platform men who have abused women.
Australia has lost 55 women to violence this year and all but three were killed by men. Male violence against women is increasing but the council is sending a message to young men and boys that hurting women is no impediment to glorification.
If Cousins remains in the role, the council will be telling women that our concerns about male violence are nothing compared to this man’s public standing.
BEN COUSINS HEADLINES SPORTING EVENTS IN SHIRE OF ASHBURTON
