Rosie Batty honoured for tackling violence

Family violence campaigner Rosie Batty may have stepped away from her public role but Australians continue to honour her advocacy for victims of violence.

Domestic violence advocate Rosie Batty.

Domestic violence advocate Rosie Batty. Source: AAP

Domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty may have closed her foundation and stepped out of the spotlight, but she continues to be honoured for her work.

The 2015 Australian of the Year campaigned tirelessly after her 11-year-old son Luke was murdered by his father at cricket practice in Victoria the previous year.

"This is a societal issue that's always existed, you can't expect miracles to occur in such a short time," she previously told AAP about domestic violence.

She started the Luke Batty Foundation in 2014 to raise awareness of issues facing victims and to demand action from community leaders.

Her advocacy was key to the establishment of a Royal Commission into Family Violence in Victoria in 2015, with the state government vowing to enact all 227 recommendations it tabled in 2016.

Ms Batty announced the foundation's closure in 2018.

"It has been a gruelling and unrelenting four years in the public eye," she said at the time. "I realise that I can't keep going at this pace forever. It is unsustainable and I am tired."

Ms Batty was appointed as an officer in the Order of Australia, as part of the Queen's Birthday honours on Monday, recognising her "distinguished service to the community".

Melbourne lawyer Richard Leder, who represented Rebel Wilson in her high-profile media defamation case, was awarded a medal in the Order of Australia for his charity work, including with The Royal Children's Hospital Foundation.


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Source: AAP


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Rosie Batty honoured for tackling violence | SBS News