Rosie Batty

{{Short description|Australian domestic violence campaigner (born 1962)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Rosie Batty

| honorific_suffix = AO

| image = Rosie Batty 2015 ACTU Congress.jpg

| caption = Batty speaking at the Women's Lunch on Day One of the 2015 ACTU Congress

| birth_name = Rosemary Anne Batty[http://www.rcfv.com.au/MediaLibraries/RCFamilyViolence/Statements/Witness-Statement-of-Rosie-Batty.pdf Witness Statement of Rosie Batty], Royal Commission into Family Violence, 6 August 2015.

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1962}}{{cite news|url=http://www.skynews.com.au/news/national/2015/01/25/rosie-batty-named-australian-of-the-year.html|title=Rosie Batty named Australian of the Year|work=Sky News|location=Australia|date=25 January 2015|access-date=25 January 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/mother-says-luke-loved-and-trusted-his-father-despite-his-problems-20140213-32juf.html|title=Mother says Luke loved and trusted his father despite his problems|work=The Age|date=13 February 2014|access-date=25 January 2015}}

| birth_place = Laneham, Nottinghamshire, England{{cite news|title=Former Lincoln school pupil watches ex-partner batter their son to death with cricket bat in Australia|url=http://www.lincolnshireecho.co.uk/Lincoln-school-pupil-watches-ex-partner-batter/story-20622787-detail/story.html|access-date=2 December 2015|work=Lincolnshire Echo|date=13 February 2014}}

| death_date =

| death_place =

| citizenship = British, Australian{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

| other_names =

| occupation =

| years_active =

| known_for = Domestic violence campaigner

| children = Luke Batty (2002{{endash}}2014)

| awards = {{Plainlist|

Australian of the Year (2015)
Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) (2019)}}

}}

Rosemary Anne "Rosie" Batty {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO}} (born 1962) is an Australian domestic violence campaigner. She became a campaigner in 2014, after her 11-year-old son Luke Batty was murdered by his father, Greg Anderson.{{Cite web|title = Mother courage – At Home with Rosie Batty|url = https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2014/october/1412085600/helen-garner/mother-courage|website = The Monthly|access-date = 27 January 2016|last = Garner |first=Helen| date=October 2014 }}

As a campaigner, she has spoken publicly about her experiences as a survivor of domestic violence to raise public awareness and advocate for social changes.{{Cite web|title = Rosie's Story|url = http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2014/07/14/4043135.htm|website = www.abc.net.au| date=14 July 2014 |access-date = 27 January 2016|language = en-AU}} Batty is considered to have had a significant influence on national public attitudes, philanthropy, government initiatives and funding, support services and police and legal procedures related to domestic violence in Australia.{{Cite web|title = Australian of the Year Awards|url = https://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/rosie-batty/1179/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200805165108/https://australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/rosie-batty/1179/|url-status = dead|archive-date = 5 August 2020|website = www.australianoftheyear.org.au|access-date = 9 February 2022}}{{Cite journal |last1=Wheildon |first1=Lisa J. |last2=True |first2=Jacqui |last3=Flynn |first3=Asher |last4=Wild |first4=Abby |date=2021-08-25 |title=The Batty Effect: Victim-Survivors and Domestic and Family Violence Policy Change |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10778012211024266 |journal=Violence Against Women |volume=28 |issue=6–7 |pages=1684–1707 |doi=10.1177/10778012211024266 |pmid=34431729 |s2cid=237292973 |issn=1077-8012}}

In 2016, then prime minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull said of domestic violence in Australia that "cultural change requires a great advocate, and Rosie has been able to do that in a way that I think nobody has done before".{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-25/outgoing-australian-of-the-year-rosie-batty's/7112356|title=Outgoing Australian of the Year Rosie Batty's legacy|website=ABC News| date=25 January 2016 |language=en-AU|access-date=27 January 2016}} She was named Australian of the Year in 2015 and appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2019.

Background

Batty was born in England and raised on a farm in Laneham in the English county of Nottinghamshire by her father along with her three brothers.{{Cite web| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/10874344/British-mother-of-son-beaten-to-death-by-cricket-bat-leads-campaign-against-domestic-violence.html| title=British mother of son beaten to death by cricket bat leads campaign against domestic violence| website=Telegraph| access-date=13 March 2018| author=Jonathan Pearlman| date=4 June 2014}}

When Batty was six years old her mother died, and she was raised by nannies and her maternal grandmother. Batty says that her mother's death had a long-term impact: "I have not really formed permanent relations with anybody; I have never been married and neither have my two other brothers. I think it really traumatises you from having key relationships because of that fear that they are going to leave you."

After high school she completed a secretarial course and worked briefly as a bank clerk and as a nanny in Australia.

Batty settled in Australia in 1988 on a partner visa{{Explain|date=February 2022}} following an initial visit in 1986.{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/good-weekend/mother-courage-rosie-battys-life-after-luke-20141128-11ld0f.html|title=Mother courage: Rosie Batty's life after Luke|author=Harari, Fiona|date=29 November 2014|work=Good Weekend, The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=25 January 2015}}

Personal life and abuse

Batty met Anderson in 1992 when they worked together at a recruitment company and the two began a romantic relationship that lasted two years.{{Cite news|title = Luke Batty: killed by a father no one truly knew|url = https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2014/nov/02/-sp-luke-batty-killed-by-a-father-no-one-truly-knew|newspaper = The Guardian|date = 2 November 2014|access-date = 27 January 2016|issn = 0261-3077|language = en-GB|first = Melissa|last = Davey}} Batty claimed that Anderson showed signs of sexual violence whilst they were together and later alleged he attempted to rape a friend of Batty's, after which Batty ended the two-year relationship.{{Cite book|title=A Mother's Story|last=Batty|first=Rosie|publisher=HarperCollins|year=2015|isbn=9781460705100}} Almost eight years later, she reinitiated contact with him and resumed a brief sexual relationship, which led to Batty's pregnancy. She claimed she never planned to have a child, given her lifelong fear of loss, and that her son was an accident.

Their son Luke was born on 20 June 2002.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

Batty claimed that Anderson's abuse began shortly after they met and increased when she fell pregnant.{{Cite web|url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/true-crime-scene/rosie-batty-reveals-her-battle-to-stop-killer-dad-greg-andersons-violence-before-son-lukes-death/news-story/408e8c50f96b7c0ba990d474f6d3c5c2|title = Rosie Batty reveals her battle to stop killer Dad Greg Anderson's violence before son Luke's death|website = Herald Sun}} Batty has expressed that Anderson was a loving father to Luke and she defended his right to have contact with their son.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

In the 2014 coronial inquest into Luke's death it was reported that Anderson may have had an undiagnosed mental illness.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/making-of-greg-anderson-into-the-monster-who-killed-his-son-little-luke-batty/story-fni0ffnk-1226834156294|title=Making of Greg Anderson into the monster who killed his son, little Luke Batty|last1=Hurley|first1=David|date=22 February 2014|newspaper=Herald Sun|last2=Dowling|first2=James}} He struggled to maintain a job and a place to live and has also been described by those who knew him as unstable, manipulative and aggressive.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} Soon after Luke was born, Anderson physically assaulted Batty, prompting her to end their relationship, although Anderson remained in contact.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

From June 2004 until February 2014, Batty made numerous allegations that Anderson physically assaulted and threatened to kill her, leading to a number of arrests, charges{{Explain|date=March 2022}} and intervention orders. In November 2012, Anderson was caught accessing child pornography at a public computer in a Melbourne library. In January 2014, Anderson allegedly threatened to kill one of his flatmates, leading to the flatmate seeking an intervention order and Anderson being arrested but released shortly after without charge. Batty was not aware of these events at the time and was not made aware due to privacy laws.

In April 2013, Batty alleged to police that Anderson had wielded a knife at Luke when they were alone inside his car and said "it could all end with this." Batty wanted Anderson to have no contact with Luke. An interim intervention order was made by the court ordering that Anderson could have no further contact with his son, naming both Batty and Luke as protected persons. At a hearing, in July 2013, the interim order was not upheld and Anderson was granted access to Luke in public when he was playing sport.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

= Murder of Luke =

On 12 February 2014, Anderson murdered eleven year old Luke Batty at cricket practice on a sports oval in the outer Melbourne suburb of {{VICcity|Tyabb}}.{{cite web|last1=Davey|first1=Melissa|title=Rosie Batty hits back at questions about her actions before son Luke's murder|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2014/oct/21/rosie-batty-hits-back-at-questions-about-her-actions-before-son-lukes|website=The Guardian|date=21 October 2014|access-date=13 March 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Davey|first1=Melissa|title=Luke Batty's killer, Greg Anderson, was 'bad, not mad', police tell inquest|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2014/oct/23/luke-battys-killer-greg-anderson-was-bad-not-mad-police-tell-inquest|website=The Guardian|date=22 October 2014|access-date=13 March 2015}} Although parents and children were present, as people began to leave and were some distance away, Anderson managed to isolate Luke inside a cricket net, where he struck his son on the head and stabbed him to death. Anderson resisted arrest and threatened ambulance workers with his knife. He later died in hospital from police gunshots and self-inflicted stab wounds.{{cite news |title=Small town in shock after father kills 11yo son on cricket oval|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-13/tyabb-boy-dead-father-shot-by-police/5256444 |access-date=20 July 2016 |work=ABC News |publisher=ABC (Australia) |date=12 February 2014}}

In the coronial inquest, police officers, child protection services and Rosie Batty stated that they never believed that Anderson would harm Luke, as although he had a record of violence against Rosie Batty, he was not violent toward his son.

Campaign against domestic violence

File:Rosie Batty 2015-02.jpg panel discussion in July 2015.]]

Batty began speaking publicly about her experience after addressing the media the morning after Luke's murder. She became an advocate for domestic violence survivors and victims, and sought to address perceived systemic failures in responses to domestic violence in Australia.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/luke-battys-mother-rosie-urges-overhaul-to-prevent-childrens-deaths-20140828-109gpo.html|title=Luke Batty's mother Rosie urges overhaul to prevent children's deaths|work=The Age|date=28 August 2014|access-date=25 January 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/charity-to-mark-luke-battys-tragic-death-20140215-32s9m.html|title=Charity to mark Luke Batty's tragic death|work=The Age|date=15 February 2014|access-date=25 January 2015|author=Singer, Melissa}} She has spoken about a lack of communication between services, about public perceptions of domestic violence, about a lack of funding, and about police and legal procedures that she felt disempowered her ability to protect herself and her son.

In 2014, Batty established the Luke Batty Foundation to assist women and children affected by domestic violence.{{cite web|url=http://lukebattyfoundation.com.au/|title=Luke Batty Foundation|access-date=26 January 2015}}

In April 2014, she responded to a comment from journalist Joe Hildebrand on Ten Network's Studio 10, a TV panel show. In discussing proposed Victorian laws for compulsory reporting of child abuse cases, Hildebrand said that being "scared for your own safety, I'm sorry, it is not an excuse." In response, Batty said that she was shocked at the notion, and had thought that after her son's death, she had hoped that "something would come out of this that would actually show the difficulty women have in abusive relationships".{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/rosie-batty-blasts-studio-10-host-joe-hildebrand-on-morning-tv/story-e6frfmyi-1226872088068|title=Rosie Batty blasts Studio 10 host Joe Hildebrand on morning TV |work=news.com.au|date=7 April 2014|access-date=25 January 2015}}

In September 2015 she called on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to close Australian immigration detention facilities due to the incidence of rape and sexual assault.Allard, Tom [http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/rosie-batty-takes-on-malcolm-turnbull-over-detention-centres-they-must-be-shut-down-20151001-gjz5zq.html Rosie Batty takes on Malcolm Turnbull over detention centres: 'They must be shut down' 2 October 2015] Sydney Morning Herald

Batty's story was instrumental in the establishment in 2015 of the Royal Commission into Family Violence in her home state of Victoria.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/australian-of-the-year-rosie-batty-a-voice-of-family-violence/story-fnboyn5s-1227190075624|title=Australian of the year: Rosie Batty, a voice of family violence|date=20 January 2015|newspaper=The Australian|access-date=26 January 2015|author=Akerman, Pia}}{{cite interview|last=Batty|first=Rosie|interviewer=Hamish Macdonald|title=Domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty welcomes Victorian royal commission|type=Interview|url=http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/rosie-batty/6030036|format=Streaming audio; transcript|work=ABC Radio National Breakfast|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=21 January 2015|access-date=26 January 2015}} It was tabled in Parliament on 30 March 2016. The report is a culmination of a 13-month inquiry into how to effectively prevent family violence, improve early intervention, support victims, make perpetrators accountable, better coordinate community and government response, and evaluate and measure strategies, frameworks, policies, programs and services.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rcfv.com.au/Media/Royal-Commission-report-delivered-to-Government-Ho|title=Royal commission report delivered to Government House|last=Matthers|first=Tracey|date=31 July 2016|website=Royal Commission into Family Violence}} The report includes eight volumes, and is founded on 227 recommendations made by the commission to improve, guide and oversee a long-term reform program that deals with family violence. This includes the establishment of the Family Violence Protection Act, which provides a detailed definition of family violence, the relationships in which it can arise, and a reinforcement of the sound objectives and principles of the Act.{{Cite web|url=http://files.rcfv.com.au/Reports/Final/RCFV-All-Volumes.pdf|title=Royal Commission into Family Violence Report|date=March 2016|website=Royal Commission into Family Violence|access-date=6 January 2018|archive-date=8 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308121302/http://files.rcfv.com.au/Reports/Final/RCFV-All-Volumes.pdf|url-status=dead}}

In late 2016, Batty wrote to Federal Immigration Minister Peter Dutton in support of Dr. Chamari Liyanage, who had bludgeoned her husband to death with a hammer in his bed while he slept in 2014, claiming that Liyanage should be allowed to remain in Australia after her release from prison, stating that this would "demonstrate a compassionate Australian Government that truly understands the plight of family and domestic violence victims."{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-19/rosie-batty-calls-on-peter-dutton-to-let-chamari-liyanage-stay/8132396|title=Rosie Batty calls on Peter Dutton to allow woman who killed abusive husband to stay in Australia|date=19 December 2016|work=ABC News|access-date=27 Apr 2020|language=en-AU}}

On 16 February 2018, Batty announced that she would step down as the chief executive of the Luke Batty Foundation, and eventually shut down the foundation. On the same day, the Foundation stopped receiving donations.{{Cite web|url=https://lbf.joshs.space/a-message-from-rosie-some-time-out-of-the-public-eye/|title=A Message From Rosie: Some Time Out Of The Public Eye – Luke Batty Foundation|website=lbf.joshs.space|language=en-US|access-date=16 February 2018|archive-date=20 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220035412/https://lbf.joshs.space/a-message-from-rosie-some-time-out-of-the-public-eye/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-16/rosie-batty-resigns-luke-batty-foundation-closes/9456416|title=Rosie Batty resigns, Luke Batty Foundation to wind down operations|date=16 February 2018|work=ABC News|access-date=16 February 2018|language=en-AU}}

Recognition

Batty was awarded the Pride of Australia's National Courage Medal in 2014, appointed 2015 Australian of the Year, awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of the Sunshine Coast, and was ranked number 33 in the list of the World's Greatest Leaders 2016 by Fortune magazine.{{cite news |date=25 January 2015 |title=Australian of the Year: Rosie Batty awarded top honour for efforts to stop family violence |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-25/rosie-batty-named-australian-of-the-year-2015/6045290 |access-date=25 January 2015 |work=ABC News |location=Australia}}{{Cite web|url=https://mysunshinecoast.com.au/news/news-display/usc-to-award-honorary-doctorate-to-rosie-batty,49194|title=USC to award Honorary Doctorate to Rosie Batty|website=My Sunshine Coast|language=en|access-date=6 January 2018}}{{Cite news|url=http://fortune.com/worlds-greatest-leaders/2016/rosie-batty-33/|title=Rosie Batty|date=24 March 2016|work=Fortune|access-date=6 January 2018|language=en-US}}

In 2015 she was the subject of a portrait by Jacqui Clark named Meeting Rosie Batty, which was selected for the 2015 Portia Geach Memorial Award.{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbesadvocate.com.au/story/3338815/rosie-inspires-top-artwork/|title=Rosie inspires top artwork|date=9 September 2015|work=Forbes Advocate|access-date=12 January 2018|language=en}} She was inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2015.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-11 |title=Rosemary Batty AO |url=https://www.vic.gov.au/rosemary-batty-ao |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=State Government of Victoria |language=en-au}}

In October 2018 Batty was named in the social enterprise and not-for-profit category of The Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence awards.{{Cite news|url=https://www.afr.com/brand/100women/women-of-influence-2018-winner-fights-for-recognition-of-indigenous-australians-20181015-h16npc|title=Women of Influence 2018 winner fights for recognition of Indigenous Australians|last=Patten|first=Sally|date=2018-10-17|work=Australian Financial Review|access-date=2018-10-18|language=en-US}}

On 10 June 2019, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the general division as part of the Queen's Birthday 2019 Honours recognition for her "distinguished service to the community as a campaigner and advocate for the prevention of family violence".{{Cite web |title=Rosemary Anne BATTY |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2004373 |access-date=11 June 2019 |website=honours.pmc.gov.au}}{{Cite news |date=2019-06-10 |title=2019 Queen's Birthday Honours full list: Companions, Officers, Members, Medals, Meritorious and Military |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6207862/the-full-list-of-queens-birthday-honours/ |access-date=2019-06-10 |work=The Canberra Times}}

Other activities

On 10 October 2023, Batty was one of 25 Australians of the Year who signed an open letter supporting the Yes vote in the Indigenous Voice referendum, initiated by psychiatrist Patrick McGorry.{{cite web | last=Butler | first=Josh | title=Australian of the Year winners sign open letter saying no vote in voice referendum would be a 'shameful dead end' | website=The Guardian | date=11 October 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/11/indigenous-voice-to-parliament-referendum-australians-of-the-year-open-letter | access-date=11 October 2023}}{{cite web | last=Winter | first=Velvet | title=Voice referendum live updates: Australians of the Year Yes vote letter in full | website=ABC News (Australia) | date=10 October 2023 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-11/live-updates-voice-referendum-latest-news-october-11/102958838 | access-date=11 October 2023}}

Bibliography

{{Cite book | author1=Batty, Rosie | author2=Corbett, Bryce | title=A Mother's Story | date=21 September 2015 | publication-date=2015 | publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty Limited | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/193270349 | isbn=978-1-4607-5055-1 }}
{{Cite book | author1=Batty, Rosie | author2=Smethurst, Sue| title=Hope | date=3 April 2024 | publication-date=2024 | publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty Limited | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/256308178 | isbn=978-1-4607-6029-1 }}

References

External links

{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2014/07/14/4043135.htm|work=Four Corners|publisher=ABC TV|location=Australia|title=Rosie's Story|author1=Thompson, Geoff|author2=McGregor, Lisa|date=29 July 2014|format=streaming video; transcript}}

Category:1962 births

Category:Living people

Category:Anti-domestic violence activists

Category:Australian of the Year Award winners

Category:English emigrants to Australia

Category:People from Bassetlaw District

Category:Australian victims of crime

Category:Officers of the Order of Australia

Category:Australian women activists

Category:Australian activists

Category:Australian expatriates in England