VICTORIA Police Chief Commissioner, Ken Lay has raised the prospect that maybe it is time, we, as a nation redefine the 'Australian way'.
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Mr Lay's remarks follow the reporting of a highly publicised public altercation between James Packer and David Gyngell in May.
"Most inexplicably to me, Bob Katter, an experienced and long serving politician condoned the incident as simply being the 'Australian way'," Mr Lay said.
"I find it astounding that such a comment from a senior politician like Katter would go unchallenged and passed largely without criticism from the Australian media.
"If Bob Katter can condone the incident between Packer and Gyngell as being the 'Australian way' to settle differences, then perhaps we need to redefine the Australian Way."
Mr Lay made the comments at last month's Leading Change Breakfast in Ararat, as he addressed the issue of community and individual responses to acts of violence.
"I would argue that this tolerance of male aggression goes to the heart of why some Australian men have an inability to deal with conflict, be it a mate, a child, a wife, a parent or work colleague without reverting back to violence," he said.
Mr Lay has called for a change in social culture, one that will stamp out acts of violence in society.
"Our culture at times endorses violence as an acceptable way to resolve conflict, an entitlement to abuse and insult," he said.
"Men in particular need to start a conversation about what we can do, because change will not happen by itself."