Why Anthony Albanese wants all Australian kids to watch Adolescence

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has encouraged people to watch the drama series Adolescence — about a 13-year-old boy who murders a girl at his school — as he promised $20 million to establish a frontline family and sexual violence service on the Central Coast.

The prime minister has urged all Australians to watch the Netflix streaming hit Adolescence as both major parties confront Australia’s epidemic of violence against women on the campaign trail.

With five full days of campaigning left, Anthony Albanese visited a NSW Central Coast community housing provider in Gosford, in the marginal seat of Robertson, to promise $20 million for a new local frontline family and sexual violence service.

“This isn’t a day, with respect, for congratulating the government,” Albanese said, instead pointing to frontline workers as deserving of credit.

He conceded the current approach to gendered violence “isn’t working” and that a “whole of society” approach was necessary to combat gendered and family violence, expressing concerns that young people are being exposed to “pretty hateful stuff”.

“I don’t know if you’ve seen Adolescence, I encourage anyone to have a look at it,” Albanese told reporters, saying he found the turmoil experienced by the young protagonist’s parents in the hit show powerful.

“This is something we need to have conversations about.”

Released in March, the four-part British drama series centres around a 13-year-old schoolboy who is arrested for the murder of a teenage girl at his school.

The series explores the factors that influenced the boy’s decision, with a subsequent investigation uncovering his exposure to misogynistic content online.

Asked if he’d follow United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer in providing funding to screen the miniseries in schools, Albanese said he’s “not sure it needs funding … for Netflix, to be frank, but I would encourage schools to show it, absolutely”.

He admitted it took him some time to complete the series, saying he watched the “captivating” series “in bits”.

Announcement comes as Central Coast community rallies

The government’s announcement on the Central Coast comes as the region’s community continues to reel from the alleged murder of 19-year-old Audrey Griffin last month.

Griffin’s body was found partially submerged in Erina Creek after she disappeared on a night out.

After a four-week investigation, 53-year-old Adrian Noel Torrens was charged with her murder last Monday. On Thursday, Torrens’ body was found in his cell at a remand centre in Sydney.

The alleged murder of 19-year-old Audrey Griffin on the Central Coast has sparked outrage about gendered violence in Australia. Source: Supplied / Darci Tabone

Griffin’s alleged murder has sparked outrage over Australia’s national response to gendered violence, and several rallies and vigils have been held in the Central Coast area.

On Sunday, hundreds of people marched along the Gosford foreshore, condemning violence against women and calling for change.

The march was organised by What Were You Wearing, an Australian not-for-profit organisation fighting to end sexual violence.

Hundreds of people marched along the Gosford foreshore on Sunday, one of multiple demonstrations that have taken place in the wake of 19-year-old Audrey Griffin’s alleged murder. Credit: What Were You Wearing / Facebook

Twenty-four women have been killed so far this year, according to Femicide Watch — a national toll of Australian women killed domestically and overseas, run by journalist and campaigner Sherele Moody.

Asked about Griffin’s alleged murder on Monday, Albanese said: “This is a tragic and horrific death, and my heart goes out to the family and the friends and loved ones of Audrey Griffin.”

“One death from violence against women is one too many, and this is just an enormous tragedy, and we continue to work through these issues.”

Shortly before Albanese arrived, the Coalition confirmed it would match the $20 million announcement for the Central Coast support service.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton said in a statement: “As a former police officer who attended numerous domestic violence call-outs, I know the trauma and lifelong impacts that can occur as a result of these horrific crimes.”

Dutton said a Coalition government would be focused on “delivering real change so that families, women and children are safer and we work towards reducing the impact of family and domestic violence”.

— With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press