A warning this next story depicts sexual harassment as well as threats of sexual violence. A Queensland footy fan has captured the moment she was sexually harassed on her way home from an NRL game. The woman has chosen to share the video as the nation continues to search for solutions.
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00:00 Hayley Mabbitt was on her way home from an NRL game when a car began following her.
00:07 The three men inside then made threats of sexual violence.
00:11 So there was some yelling that I couldn't make out at the start, but what I did make
00:15 out very clearly was, "You better be going home or I'll rape you."
00:20 Unfortunately, it's not unusual, and I know many females that have experienced the same
00:25 thing, but I've never been able to capture it on video before.
00:29 The 32-year-old Brisbane resident had caught a train from the footy ground and was walking
00:34 home.
00:35 Ms Mabbitt has since experienced victim blaming, with some questioning her choice to walk.
00:41 I can understand why I get asked that question, why women get asked that question, but it's
00:45 also frustrating on the other hand that women can't do that without feeling safe because
00:50 of instances like that.
00:52 Hayley Mabbitt says catching public transport to see the footy is no longer something she
00:58 feels safe to do.
01:00 She's not alone.
01:01 A Bureau of Statistics survey found 2.2 million women won't walk alone after dark because
01:08 they feel unsafe.
01:09 Advocates say this needs to change.
01:12 That's not an unusual activity and not one that people should be afraid to undertake,
01:17 and yet here we have a young woman with a credible threat of sexual violence that she
01:21 managed to catch on camera.
01:23 The NRL has declined to speak to the ABC about fan safety, but advocates say its condemnation
01:30 is crucial.
01:31 I do feel sporting codes have an ethical responsibility to ensure that women can participate in enjoying
01:37 their sports by having a consistent message that behaviour like this is completely unacceptable.
01:43 Ms Mabbitt says she's reported it to police.
01:46 And I think they should absolutely be spoken to about their actions because regardless
01:52 if it was a joke or something serious, neither of those are okay.
01:57 [BLANK_AUDIO]