24 July 2002
Women’s Refuge Makes Complaint About Act Party Leaflet
Women’s Refuge has called for an apology and a retraction from the ACT party, in a complaint that was filed with the
Advertising Standards Authority, the Human Rights Commission, and the Electoral Commission today concerning statements
about ‘solo mothers’.
Women’s Refuge claims that a statement attributed to Dr Muriel Newman, which says that “the most unsafe environment in
which to raise a child is a family headed by a solo mother with a series of different partners”, is highly offensive to
single mothers, discriminatory and misleading.
“From our 30 years of work with women and children who have experienced violence, we know that the most ‘unsafe
environment’ to raise a child is in a family headed by a controlling dominating male.
“Single mothers are not to blame for men’s violence, nor should they be blamed for the social and economic disadvantages
they often have to endure” said Women’s Refuge National Coordinator Roma Balzer.
“It’s time to stop using emotive stereotypes about single mothers, and look at the real problems that effect outcomes
for children- poverty and violence” Ms Balzer said.
ENDS