Trigger warning: This post features explicit details of rape that could be distressing for some readers.
A Sydney mayor who wrote a glowing reference in support of convicted Soho nightclub rapist, Luke Lazarus, is under fire again, for proposing education sessions to teach girls how to minimise their “risky behaviour” in relation to rape.
The Liberal mayor of Waverley drew fire previously, when she and a parade of other well-heeled members of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs attempted to persuade the sentencing judge to allow the convicted rapist to avoid jail time.
But try as he might, Lazarus, a Cranbrook old boy, was unable to hide behind his family’s wealth and connections.
Despite his various advocates describing him as “courteous” and “respectful” with a “promising future”, he was sentenced to a minimum term of three years, for the rape of an 18-year-old woman in an alleyway, at the back of a Kings Cross nightclub.
Read more: This man’s story shows that courts still don’t consider rape a serious crime.
Now, Sally Betts, has the Liberal mayor of Waverley has told a reporter that she is working with police to introduce a “new risky behaviour education program to try and help young women understand and better deal with being in vulnerable situations.”
This follows on from previous statements, in which Betts stated that she was working to develop an educational program for young people, in the hopes that Lazarus may one day be involved: “When we get this program up and running, [we would like him to be able to] say to young people: ‘This is what I did. I did the most terrible thing, I’ve ruined my family’s life, I’ve ruined my life, be careful don’t do it.”‘
Top Comments
Great article and I completely agree!! Times are a'changing thank god! Young men should know be aware that women are people with feelings - God, even writing that feels insane.
It would be a rare woman who would want or enjoy the kind of encounter described here, and totally devastating for it to be a first sexual encounter.
How he could believe it was okay is probably a long, complex and warped story.
His family had a party after the acquittal - that probably explains a lot why he didn't and still doesn't understand how he crossed a basic human line. It was how this young man was raised.
I don't put all the blame on him. His family share the blame. A party? For being acquitted on a charge that will affect the woman for life?
Everything about that is wrong.
Women do need to be forewarned about the way men (and boys) can view them, but more importantly men need to understand that women are people, not objects, and to take responsibility for their actions.
Women have taken responsibility for men's actions towards them for long enough!!
I'm glad it's changing!
This whole incident was truly disgusting.Why does his reputation matter more than his victim's emotional health?