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Commissioner Donna Adams
Tasmanian Police
GPO Box 308
HOBART TAS 7001

Dear Commissioner Adams,

ABC On-line Report: "Domestic violence comments to Bettina Arndt puts UTAS lecturer in spotlight" by Ellen Coulter, 22 May, 2025

I refer to the above article concerning an interview given by Dr Fiona Girkin.

The article quotes a spokesperson from Tasmania Police as saying: 'The opinions stated by Dr Girkin are not in line with the principles Tasmania Police supports in dealing with family violence.'

If this quote accurately represents the views of Tasmania Police, I urge you to consider the following, and to then review the position of Tasmania Police.

During the interview upon which the article is loosely based, Dr Girkin advises that Tasmania Police, at a management level, endorsed her evidence-based teaching, and, by inference, the views she expressed in the interview. She has been thoroughly supported in her position by senior police during her ongoing work over the last year.

It seems clear that Dr Girkin's teaching approach was to follow the evidence; an approach which would clearly be endorsed in all areas of police investigation. Adopting this approach in investigating claims of domestic violence is what has led to front-line Tasmania police officers identifying both women and men in equal numbers to be perpetrators.

However, this observation does not necessarily translate into an equal number of women being charged with domestic violence offences. The assessment procedures in practice in the Tasmanian Police system mean far more men end up ultimately being charged in the courts.

Contrary to claims of critics quoted in the article, Dr Girkin's observations are very well supported by numerous international studies. In particular, the most recent Australian large-scale domestic violence survey found that 45.5% of people who had experienced domestic violence were male.

The fact that Tasmania police officers are charging many women simply means that they are doing their job properly - following the evidence, notwithstanding that this has led to (what can only be reasonably interpreted as ideologically driven) complaints from some; insisting that only women should be believed. (A good example is this ABC article, which insists that women are being misidentified as perpetrators.)

I am sure that you agree that the duty of law enforcement agencies is, first and foremost, to uphold the law, without fear or favour. It follows that an objective, evidence-based approach to police investigations is the cornerstone of this duty. To pillory a well-respected and very competent academic for honestly and directly expressing this view is both unfair, and anathema to the broader interests of justice.

The sensitivity of the matters discussed by Dr Girkin should in no way impinge upon her right to express her experiences and opinion.

I urge you to support this obviously committed and valuable academic and educator, and to resist some very partisan pressure being brought to bear upon you.

This is a matter of more than your own legacy, or even your own conscience. It is a matter of standing up for freedom of speech and justice.

Yours Sincerely,