Tas: MP's partner charged, leaders condemn violence

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2009
Tas: MP's partner charged, leaders condemn violence

By Paul Carter

HOBART, Aug 25 AAP - Senior political leaders have condemned violence against women
as unacceptable cowardice after the partner of a federal MP was charged with her assault.

The partner of Tasmanian federal Labor MP Jodie Campbell was on Tuesday granted bail
after being taken into custody following a domestic incident at their Launceston home.

Police charged Ms Campbell's partner Roland Small, 36, after he allegedly punched her
in the left eye and stomach and twisted her fingers in the early hours of Monday morning
at their Mowbray home.

Small appeared in the Launceston Magistrates Court on Tuesday to face one charge of
common assault after spending the night in custody.

He was not asked to enter a plea and was bailed by Magistrate Robert Pearce to reappear
in the same court on September 29.

A statement from Ms Campbell's office said the Bass MP, 36, was treated in hospital
for bruising and abrasions before being released to go home.

"The circumstances surrounding this matter are now the subject of an ongoing police
investigation," the statement said.

"As a consequence it would not be appropriate to comment further."

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said "acts of violence against women by men are cowardly".

"They have no place in modern Australia," Mr Rudd told reporters in Port Macquarie.

"The only attitude we can have is zero-tolerance and, as a nation, we need to embrace that."

Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull said he was very upset to hear about Ms Campbell.

"The opposition's thoughts and best wishes are with Jodie at this very, very tough
time," he told reporters in Melbourne.

The first-term MP's close friend, Health Minister Nicola Roxon, also wished Ms Campbell well.

"I can make some comments generally, and my view is that violence against women is
never acceptable," she told reporters at a conference in Sydney.

"It's something in the community that should not be condoned."

Ms Campbell has two daughters, aged eight and six, from a previous marriage.

She was single during the 2007 election campaign.

AAP pc/jlw/dep/apm

KEYWORD: SMALL WRAP

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