After printing an ugly “joke” about domestic abuse, a regional newspaper has offered a groveling apology to the community.
A “joke” about an abused and wounded lady seeking assistance from a doctor was printed in the August issue of the Murgon Moments newspaper, which is headquartered in Queensland’s South Burnett district close to Gympie.
Readers were outraged by the so-called punchline, which implied that the woman might avoid being hit by her husband if she would just shut up.
A joke about a beaten and bruised lady seeking assistance from a doctor was printed in the August issue of the South Burnett-based Murgon Moments newspaper in Queensland (pictured)
Since then, the publication has removed the problematic passage from this month’s digital edition, and the editor has also sought counseling for the issue.
After Queensland Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman expressed her horror at the publication decision, the newspaper took action.
This isn’t a joke,
She told ABC News, “It is a sharp reminder of how far we still have to go.”
Several women have already died this month as a result of domestic and familial abuse, and that’s just in Queensland, according to reports.
On Friday, a public apology was published on the Facebook page of the Murgon neighborhood.
The “Joke of the Month” is considered offensive, improper, and unacceptable by The Murgon Business and Development Association Incorporated.
Murgon Business and Development Association Incorporated issued a formal apology on Friday, writing: “The editor has been counseled and the current edition of the Murgon Moments has been retracted.”
We sincerely apologize on behalf of the Murgon business community.
The Murgon Moments current issue has been pulled, and the editor has received counseling.
The editor at the center of the controversy, Leo Geraghty, also published a statement on the website, but it was subsequently taken down due to criticism of its tone.
I’m sorry you found it insulting, dear readers.
It may be preferable to exclude all of the joke-related tidbits from the Murgon Moments, as I have voluntarily done for the past 190 issues.
The editor at the center of the controversy, Leo Geraghty, also posted a statement on their website, but it was eventually taken down due to criticism of its tone.
Maybe I should have been more selective while writing the text for print at one in the morning rather than using jokes from the 2007 version.
“Given the true gravity of domestic and sexual violence in our communities, it’s not a laughing thing,” said Domestic Violence Action Centre CEO Amy Carrington.
The editor was backed by the local councilwoman Kathy Duff, who also said: “Leo is an incredible advocate of the town.”
Since I can remember, he has performed the Murgon Moments. I am aware that there was just a mistake and no malice was intended.
He would be saddened to believe that it was misinterpreted; it was a complete mistake and not malicious.