‘Missing White Woman’ Syndrome in Australia

Here are the stories of two women who died in Australia at the hands of men.

Lynette Dailey was a pretty and lively 33 year old woman who lived in Northern NSW. On the Australia Day weekend in 2011 she went on a fishing/camping trip with her then boyfriend (Adrian Attwater) and his friend (Paul Maris). At some time over the weekend Lynette was subject to a violent rape that lead to her bleeding out and dying. She was very drunk as were the men. For 5 years neither her boyfriend or his friend where charged in relation to the murder even though they destroyed evidence related to the assault including her underwear and a mattress she had passed out. The paramedic who responded to the call was alarmed at the lack of care either man showed to her. It’s alledged in the 000 call Atwater told her to wake up and that she was a ‘fucking bitch’. They are due to stand trial this year.

Lynette was an indigenous woman.

Jill Meagher was a pretty 29 year old. She worked for the ABC (which is the Australian national broadcaster). She was raped by a parolee and prior rapist as she walked home after work drinks in Melbourne in 2012. He then killed her and buried her in a shallow grave. There was a public outcry over her death. Her murder and rapist, Adrian Bailey, was bought to trial and pled guilty by April of the following year. There was a public outcry over Jill’s death with over 30,000 people marching to end violence against women. Due to her murderer having been on parole this has prompted serious reviews and strengthening of existing laws.

Jill was a white woman.

This is what ‘missing white women’ syndrome looks like. You take two pretty women who were murdered at a similar time (while under the influence of alcohol) and the professional white women gets a lot more coverage than the alcoholic, mother of seven who is Indigenous.

This is Lynette.

This is Jill.

This shouldn’t be anyone’s story.