While much of the commentary around the upcoming ACT Election has been focussed on sporting and other local infrastructure, I’d like to take a few minutes to reflect on some of the broader issues facing our community, and those across the nation.

Late last month, The Canberra Times ran an article noting the number of former and serving police officers standing in the ACT Election, with law and order being a central theme.  Meanwhile, recent elections in the Northern Territory and Queensland have also seen a strong focus on law and order issues.

Incoming NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro says her government has a mandate to lower the age of criminal responsibility, despite the Productivity Commission warning the move would reverse progress on Closing the Gap targets and increase youth crime.  Meanwhile, in the QLD election campaign, Labor is planning to build two new youth detention centres and the LNP says it will introduce its "adult crime, adult time" policy to allow youths to be given the same sentences as adults. 

It’s interesting that both major parties in QLD seem to think that locking more kids up is the answer, when it already has the most children behind bars in the country.  The Child Death Review Board has also recently delivered a damning assessment saying the QLD detention system set up to address juvenile offenders’ behaviour has instead led to a "cycle of incarceration" for some.

At the same time, in the context of years of crisis in Western Australia's youth detention system, WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch has said that many arrests of young offenders could be prevented if better support services were implemented earlier.  He said if the right support structures were in place earlier, "youth crime will go drastically down".

These views have been echoed by National Children’s Commissioner, Anne Hollands, who explained that kids at risk or in contact with the criminal justice system are far more likely to have dealt with poverty, intergenerational trauma, violence and abuse, racism, inadequate healthcare and homelessness, which significantly increases their chances of re-offending.  She went on to ask why we accept such health and education inequity in Australia, while we continue to spend extraordinary amounts on criminalising the children who have fallen through the gaps.

There’s no doubt that people around the country are concerned about violent crime in particular.  In August, the Australian Government received the final report from the expert panel appointed to undertake a rapid review of evidence-based approaches to prevent gender-based violence, which has been described as both a national emergency and an ongoing national priority.  Within the last fortnight, media reports indicated that in the context of grand final season, domestic violence services were on standby and services supporting men wanting help to address violent behaviour are also stretched.  Phillip Ripper, CEO of the Men's Referral Service, a national call centre run by peak body No to Violence, also talked about the importance of positive role models and supports for men seeking to change their behaviour.

But what does all this mean, in the context of the upcoming ACT Election?  I think it means that while it is clear there are no easy answers to complex problems, we need an approach to gender-based violence and youth crime that is informed by the evidence, and investment in approaches that actually work.  Simplistic, tough on crime rhetoric might have superficial appeal because the community is frustrated by rates of violence and crime.  But punitive approaches only offer a short-term fix at best, and often make these problems worse in the longer term.  What we need is politicians who are brave enough to admit that these issues can’t be fixed overnight, and have some insight into the types of interventions that can actually make a difference.  This is how we build a foundation for lasting, intergenerational change that leads to some better outcomes now, and ultimately a reduction in violence and crime for future generations.

With all of this in mind, I will be giving my number one vote to Tim Bavinton, one of the ACT Labor candidates in Ginninderra in the upcoming ACT Election.  Tim was originally a teacher but has spent the last 30 years or so working in the local community sector.  He helped set up youth health education programs and services here in Canberra, including the Junction Youth Health Service.  He went on to set up the men’s sexual assault service response - SAMSSA - at the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre.  He then spent the better part of 20 years working in the family planning and sexual health space as an educator, trainer and most recently as the long-time CEO of Canberra's sexual and reproductive health and rights organisation. 

Throughout his career, Tim has worked directly with troubled young men, designing and implementing new services and approaches reflecting the need he has seen.  He’s also promoted respectful relationships through his work in schools and led key reforms through his membership of the Steering Committee for the ACT’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program.  Tim understands the drivers of violence and crime in our community and is ready to put the skills and expertise he has built throughout his career to work in driving change as an elected representative.

But what might be even more important and influential than Tim’s formal qualifications is his capacity to act as a role model for other men and boys in our community.  Tim is a husband and father to two teenage boys of his own.  He understands the challenges of raising a family in Canberra and strives to provide the guidance and support his boys need to grow into the kind of men we want more of.

We have some great women representing Belco in the ACT Legislative Assembly.  I think it’s time that our elected representatives include a positive role model for men and boys growing up in Ginninderra too.  Because while shiny stadiums and footpaths are nice, they aren’t the things that determine whether we have a safe, fair and equitable community for our kids to grow up in now and into the future.

Melanie Walker is currently the Chief Executive Officer of a national community sector organisation and was previously Chief of Staff to the ACT’s Deputy Chief Minister, Yvette Berry MLA.