- Former Wallabies star is now a federal MP
- Took to TikTok to send message to Aussie men
Footy legend turned federal MP David Pocock has drawn praise for highlighting a big problem with the advice police gave to women joggers in the wake of two horrible incidents in Canberra lately.
The former Wallabies star posted a video to TikTok in which he reacted to officers telling women to ‘stay vigilant’ on Canberra running trails after a female jogger was allegedly assaulted by a teenage boy last Friday, soon after another woman was allegedly grabbed from behind by a man before breaking free.
‘We do remind people that they do need to stay vigilant and our advice is to simply just keep your phone with you if you can,’ ACT Policing Detective Acting Superintendent Anthony Brown said afterwards.
Pocock, 37, filmed himself hitting back at that advice while out on a bushwalk in Canberra.
‘This is one for all the blokes out there,’ he began.
‘I’m interested, when you’re running, what are you thinking about?
Wallabies rugby great turned federal MP David Pocock (pictured) has won praise for highlighting how unsafe Aussie women feel while jogging
The veteran of 83 games for Australia (pictured playing for the Wallabies) wants men to each other about how to change the situation
‘Are you listening out, trying to work out what bird’s calling, or are you a fellow Queenslander, filthy about State of Origin?
‘I don’t know, are you thinking about the Roman Empire, maybe?
‘One of the things I think you’re probably not thinking about is getting sexually assaulted.
‘And I think it’s such bulls**t that we live in a country where so many are worried about that, are thinking about that when they’re out for a run or a walk.
‘We’ve got to do better. I don’t know how we solve this but I know as men, one thing we can do is actually talk to our mates about it, talk to someone this weekend about what’s created the kind of culture where we have so many women not only fearful, but actually getting assaulted when they’re out running.’
His words resonated with both men and women.
‘Thank you for being an excellent role model. A husband, a dad, an athlete and an advocate for women and men. We need more of you, especially in positions of power,’ one commenter wrote.
‘There’s not a moment we don’t think about it. It’s exhausting,’ another added.
Pocock (pictured) was reacting to two recent alleged attacks on women who were out running in Canberra
‘It’s bulls**t that my daughters can’t go for a jog with both headphones in and being able to tune out coz they have to be on guard. Thanks for speaking out. It’s a genuine thing that men need to talk about,’ a third said.
‘I’m in Canberra I cut my last run short because a man started following me I haven’t been running since. The exercise bike sucks but what else are we supposed to do?’ wrote another.
Several viewers hailed Pocock with simple messages like ‘thank you’, ‘great video mate’ and ‘bless you for this’.
ACT Police said the teen who allegedly attacked the woman is accused of choking her and striking her to the head as well as stealing her phone.
Detective Acting Superintendent Brown said the woman kept running after the alleged assault until she encountered another woman, who called Triple Zero.
The woman was taken to Canberra Hospital and treated for minor injuries, and police said they arrested a boy shortly afterwards.
The boy was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, act of indecency without consent, robbery and choke a person and render insensible.
