Murdered Luke Batty's mother blasts TV host on air
The mother of murdered schoolboy Luke Batty has broken down on live television and launched an extraordinary attack on Studio 10 co-host Joe Hildebrand for his 'misguided' comments about a proposed new law on failing to report child abuse.
Rosie Batty, whose 11-year-old son was murdered by his father Greg Anderson in February, blasted Hildebrand for saying women have no excuse for being in an abusive relationship when their partner has sexually abused their child.
His comments were made on Network Ten during an earlier panel discussion of new Victorian laws making it illegal to not report child sex abuse to police.
Ms Batty was preparing to appear on the morning show to discuss a fundraiser in memory of her son when she overheard the panel's views on the reforms through her head piece.
During the panel's discussion, Hildebrand said: "Anything is better than staying in an abusive relationship."
"To say that you're going to not report a case of child sex abuse by your partner because you are scared for your own safety, I'm sorry, it is not an excuse."
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When Ms Batty came on air she fought back tears as she told Hildebrand his comments were misguided.
"I am absolutely outraged. I was living in hope that because of Luke's tragic death it would bring a huge awareness to family violence," she said.
"This is beyond my comprehension how, again, the woman who is the victim is punished."
Ms Batty went on to reveal the details of the violence she suffered at the hands of her estranged husband, who killed their son at a cricket oval at Tyabb on the evening of February 12.
"Greg had finally lost control of me and the final act of control, which was the most hideous form of violence, was to kill my son," she said.
"So don't you ever think that if we don't report it's because we don't want to. It's because we are so scared about what might happen.
"Joe needs to look at his views as a man and needs to step up and get informed. Because when I hear comments like that I am so saddened that the focus is still on the woman. Where the hell is the perpetrator? Why isn't he being jailed for three years?"
Hildebrand remained largely silent during Batty's comments, which prompted applause from the studio audience.
At one point he defended his opinion, saying he believed the laws would actually help to protect women, before she cut him off.
"Joe, where do you go to be protected 24 hours a day, seven days a week?" she asked.
Studio 10 later tweeted their thanks to Batty for her "grace and her passion" during the interview.
Comment was being sought from Hildebrand and Channel Ten.
Victim support groups fear victims of family violence may be jailed under new laws that make it a crime not to disclose a case of child sex abuse.
The new crime- announced in a statement by Attorney-General Robert Clark yesterday - carries a maximum three year jail-term.
People who reasonably fear for their safety can be excused under the new law.
