Don't forget to put your name and address at the bottom!

Sergeant Shane Tilley
Police Association of Tasmania
107 New Town Road
New Town TAS 7008

Dear Sergeant Tilley,

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

I write to you in your capacity as President Police Association Tasmania, and refer to the above article concerning a recent 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.' I question whether this quote reflects the position of your members.

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 clearly been 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.

Clearly, this observation does not necessarily translate into an equal number of women being charged with domestic violence offences.

As you are probably well aware, 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 (see this link)

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 on Tasmania Police, and by implication, on your members.

You may consider it appropriate to canvas the actual views of your members to ascertain whether Dr Girkin’s views accurately reflect those of the broader force membership.

Your members are at the coalface of policing in Tasmania, and I am sure that you will agree that their frank and honest views, based on their lived experience

Yours Sincerely,