General Manager of Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL), Joe Rea today represented Capricornia on a White Ribbon Day Breakfast panel in Brisbane.

Joe joined fellow panellists Ben Ikin -White Ribbon Day ambassador and former rugby league player; Leigh Matthews - White Ribbon Day ambassador and former AFL player and coach; George Theo - CEO Challenge participant and CEO Unitywater and Kay McGrath - Channel 7 media personality on the panel at the breakfast hosted by the Honourable Quentin Bryce AD CVO.

The Panel conversation focussed on how everyone can take action to reduce violence against women. Joe said it was important that the Capricornia district was represented at the event because it is currently 97% above the Queensland reported average rate of domestic violence incidents and 82% of reported offenders were male1.

Joe’s participation in the Panel was part of BSL’s month-long domestic and family violence awareness raising campaign involving its 1,100 employees and contractors. The campaign was launched with a site visit by the Honourable Quentin Bryce to unveil large white ribbons adorning the fleet of Crucible Transport Vehicles, the mobile equipment which carry molten aluminium on site

"The disturbing fact is that we don’t talk about the prevalence of domestic violence enough. In my view, there is no humiliation in reaching out for help. The only ‘walk of shame’, is allowing this cycle of abuse to continue its journey", Mr Rea said.

"Violence against women affects us all. The victims are not statistics in a report—they are our wives, sisters, mothers, daughters and work colleagues. We cannot sit on the sidelines while those we love are at risk of harm. We all need to take action to reduce violence against women. It is un-Australian for us to do nothing."