In the shadow of the track on which is held the infamous 'race that stops the nation', sits a sombre reality. Domestic violence spikes around the Melbourne Cup, and other major sporting events.
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Researchers at La Trobe University in Melbourne found a significant spike in police-recorded assaults and emergencies around the annual AFL grand final, Melbourne Cup, and Formula 1 racing events.
The worst of the increases occurred around the Melbourne Cup.
"We're not surprised that it is one of the days, because we're very aware that there are a number of events across a year that heighten the risk for women and their children, Melbourne Cup day is one of those," said the former CEO of the White Ribbon Campaign, Libby Davies back in 2014.
Since Ms Davies spoke out about the Cup day's violence trends eight years ago, frustratingly, little has changed.
The situation has also not improved across the border in NSW, either.
According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics from 2012 to 2017, on average there is a more than 40 per cent surge in domestic violence assaults during the State of Origin.
Binge drinking and excessive gambling may be contributing factors increasing the number of assualts around sporting events, according to La Trobe University head researcher, Kirsty Forsdike and her team.
Dr Forsdike's research, published in 2022, found the frequency and severity of violence went hand-in-hand with drunkeness and the loss of income from gambling.
Amongst its major sponsors over the years, the Melbourne Cup has managed to boast several alcohol brands, meaning the promotion of drinking sits front and centre in the carnival's marketing.
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Additionally, research by Finder in 2021 showed that on average punters - both at home and on the Flemington field - spent around $180 each, with at least $88 of that on betting.
Punters spent a combined $221.6 million on the 2020 race, when the aptly named Twilight Payment won the day.
Aside from the culture of drunkenness and betting, the La Trobe University report indicated there was another significant link between on-field aggression and the rise in violence off the field.
Sports where an on-field biff might be more prevalent tended to see higher rates of domestic violence reports, the researchers said.
So, to curb that rate of violence, the researchers recommend domestic violence policies be tailored to specific sports events and cultures.
Dr Forsdike and her team suggest scheduling major sporting events away from public holidays, limiting the availability of alcohol by increasing prices, and developing social marketing campaigns aimed at highlighting the problematic link between alcohol, gambling, and violence.
The researchers pointed to the #LiftYourGame campaign which ran alongside the 2022 AFL grand final, as an effective marketing strategy, particularly because it was run in the absence of any alcohol or gambling sponsorship.
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