{"id":517761,"date":"2026-03-04T08:46:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T08:46:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/517761\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T08:46:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T08:46:07","slug":"plibersek-accuses-mafs-of-platforming-coercive-control-after-contestant-wanted-a-woman-obedient-like-a-dog-tanya-plibersek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/517761\/","title":{"rendered":"Plibersek accuses Mafs of platforming \u2018coercive control\u2019 after contestant wanted a woman \u2018obedient\u2019 like a dog | Tanya Plibersek"},"content":{"rendered":"

The social services minister, Tanya Plibersek<\/a>, has accused Australia\u2019s biggest media company, Nine Entertainment, of \u201cnormalising\u201d coercive control by airing an exchange in which a Married at First Sight<\/a> contestant says he wants a woman to be obedient like a dog.<\/p>\n

Plibersek urged parents not to let their children watch the \u201cdangerous\u201d reality TV<\/a> juggernaut, which regularly attracts more than 2 million viewers on broadcast television alone.<\/p>\n

In the clip the minister posted from the show Mafs: After the Dinner Party, host Laura Byrne raises the man\u2019s attitude to controlling behaviour: \u201cIf you want someone who is obedient, yes, it\u2019s controlling. And you want a dog.\u201d<\/p>\n

Contestant Tyson Gordon responds: \u201cMaybe that\u2019s what I want.\u201d<\/p>\n

Later he says: \u201cI don\u2019t want a dog. I want to be the man of the house. I want to be a leader \u2026 I\u2019m sure every female wants that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Plibersek said we needed to call out this type of misogyny and that government can only do so much.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen men who idolise \u2018submissive\u2019 and \u2018obedient\u2019 women are normalised on prime-time TV, it means coercive control is given a national platform,\u201d Plibersek said in a post on Instagram.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not entertaining, it\u2019s incredibly dangerous. This is the exact kind of cultural messaging we\u2019re trying to change. Messaging which encourages control and dehumanises women, which is supercharged by algorithms peddling misogyny for profit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Plibersek said the government had delayed access to social media to children to avoid their exposure to this type of content and to promote healthy and equal relationships.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease don\u2019t expose your kids to this stuff. And let\u2019s continue to call out this behaviour for what it is \u2013 the harmful need to exert control over women dressed up as a normal part of a relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n

News.com.au commentator James Weir claimed producers had trawled<\/a> \u201cthe darkest and dankest corners of the brosphere\u201d for contestants this season.<\/p>\n

TV Week said the show had crossed a line<\/a> from \u201centertainment to concern very quickly\u201d by airing scenes of bullying, name calling and physical violence.<\/p>\n

Privately, producers argue they are not platforming the man\u2019s views because in the Stan episode Plibersek referenced the hosts and the other contestants confronted his behaviour and called him out for his sexist attitude.<\/p>\n

Plibersek has highlighted the scourge of gender-based violence and the problem of technology-facilitated abuse in her portfolio.<\/p>\n

The Nine network declined to comment.<\/p>\n

In Australia, the national family violence counselling service<\/a> is on 1800 737 732. In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline<\/a> on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women\u2019s Aid<\/a>. In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n