An offensive joke about domestic violence has been pulled from a regional Queensland news website and the publisher has issued an unreserved apology.
In its August edition the South Burnett-based Murgon Moments newspaper, which is available digitally and in print, published a joke implying a woman who kept her mouth shut would not become a victim of domestic violence.
The digital edition has since been republished without the joke after an outcry from readers and Queensland Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman.
"This is not a joke," she said.
"It is a stark reminder of how far we still have to go.
"Already this month it has been reported that several women have lost their lives due to domestic and family violence — that's just in Queensland alone."
The newspaper is published by the Murgon Business and Development Association, which issued an apology on the website.
"The Murgon Business and Development Association Incorporated finds the Joke of the Month unacceptable, inappropriate and offensive," the association wrote.
"On behalf of the Murgon business community we offer an unreserved apology.
"The editor has been counselled and the current edition of the Murgon Moments has been withdrawn."
Domestic Violence Action Centre chief executive Amy Carrington said the joke normalised criminal behaviour and sought to justify a man's decision to physically assault a woman.
"Given the actual severity of domestic and sexual violence in our communities, it's not a joking matter," she said.
Editor's response removed
Editor Leo Geraghty briefly published a statement in response on the newspaper's website, but it was later removed.
"To my valued readers, I am sorry you found it offensive," the statement said.
"Perhaps it might be better to remove all the snippets that used to be classed as jokes from the Murgon Moments, which I have voluntary done for the last 190 issues.
"Perhaps doing the copy for print at one o'clock in the morning, I should have been more careful to what I was including instead of including jokes from the 2007 edition."
Mr Geraghty was contacted by the ABC for comment.
Councillor Kathy Duff defended Mr Geraghty.
"Leo is an absolute champion of the community," she said.
"He has been doing the Murgon Moments for as long as I can remember.
"I know there was absolutely no intent meant and that was just an oversight.
"He would be devastated to think somebody had taken it the wrong way — it was absolute oversight and not ill-intended.”
'Setting what's normal'
Ms Carrington said the incident was an important reminder that domestic violence was a serious issue.
"It's really important that our media understand that what they're publishing is setting what's normal in our society and what's acceptable," she said.
"If we want to change the landscape to end gender-based violence in one generation, then media is essential to being a part of changing that story."
State Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said she was appalled by the comments.
"It is highly offensive, inappropriate and there is absolutely no place in our society for this sort of commentary about women," she said.
Ms Frecklington said she was made aware of the incident by concerned community members and had been in contact with the publisher.
Ms Frecklington advertises with the publication and said she would continue to support local regional media.
