Arabic version: فندق في بالارات يلغي فعالية خطابية لبن كوزينز
According to ABC News, the George Hotel in Ballarat cancelled a planned public speaking event featuring former AFL player Ben Cousins after community backlash. The event, titled Raw, had been scheduled for Wednesday night and was promoted as an account of Cousins’ time in jail, exclusion from the AFL community and “journey to redemption”.
The hotel announced the cancellation on social media a little more than three-and-a-half hours before the scheduled start. It apologised for the decision to host the event, saying it understood the “anger, disappointment and hurt expressed” by the community. The venue said management had made the booking decision and accepted responsibility, adding that it was reviewing how speakers, performers, booking agents and partners are assessed.
Cousins received a 12-month prison sentence in 2017 for aggravated stalking and breaching a family violence restraining order. Tickets for the Ballarat event were priced at $49, while a $99 option included a photograph with Cousins. Promoter Z Entertainment had described him as an “icon” and said 20 people had confirmed attendance. The event was part of a Victorian tour that included Geelong, Seaford and Sunbury.
Ballarat Centre Against Sexual Assault manager Katrina Bevelander said she was relieved by the cancellation, calling the event “really tone deaf”. She said the community had family violence rates above the state average and that giving Cousins a platform was a “slap in the face” to victim-survivors and the wider community. Respect Victoria director Beth McCann said the cancellation was an important step toward a Ballarat where people were safe, respected and free from violence.
Crime statistics for the year ending December 2025 recorded 2,953 family violence incidents in the Ballarat region, up from 2,926 the previous year. The Victorian government has committed $9.8 million over four years for Respect Ballarat, an initiative focused on prevention and early intervention.
