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Law professor's husband says they 'don't do consent' on podcast

James Howe's comments on The Dr Jo Show spark debate over consent education and government digital duty-of-care bill

By LineZotpaper
Published
Updated
Read Time2 min
Sources3 outlets
Furniture designer James Howe has told his wife's podcast that within their marriage "consent isn't even a frickin' thing", igniting controversy around the couple's opposition to sexual consent education and the federal government's proposed digital duty-of-care legislation.

In a recent episode of The Dr Jo Show, hosted by his wife, law professor Dr Joanna Howe, James Howe made the remarks during a discussion about sexual consent education and the government's digital duty-of-care bill. "Like for me, like, I just … I don't do consent. We don't do consent," the father of five said. He added that "consent isn't even a frickin' thing" in their marriage.

The Howes have described the government's proposed digital duty-of-care bill and current consent education as amounting to "school-based indoctrination" and "brainwashing". Dr Joanna Howe is an Australian law professor and the host of the podcast. James Howe is a furniture designer. The couple have five children.

The comments have drawn attention due to the apparent contradiction between Dr Howe's professional expertise in law and the personal stance expressed by her husband on their shared platform. The episode has prompted discussions about the role of consent education in schools and the broader cultural messages around consent in relationships.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The comments highlight a tension between personal beliefs and public advocacy, particularly for a law professor who regularly speaks on legal and social issues.
  • The debate touches on the federal government's digital duty-of-care bill, which aims to regulate online content and age verification, and the ongoing national conversation about consent education in Australia.
  • It raises questions about how public figures manage contradictory personal views when advocating on policy matters.

Background

Australia has been engaged in a sustained public debate over consent education, particularly after national reforms to affirmative consent laws in several states. The federal government's digital duty-of-care bill, currently before parliament, seeks to impose obligations on digital platforms to protect children from harmful content. The Howes' podcast episode occurred against this backdrop, with the couple criticising both initiatives as indoctrination.

Key Perspectives

Advocates of consent education: They argue that teaching affirmative consent is essential to reducing sexual violence and that parental views should not undermine evidence-based programs in schools. Critics of the digital duty-of-care bill: Some civil liberties groups and parents have raised concerns about privacy and government overreach, though the Howes' specific objections focus on what they call "brainwashing". Dr Joanna Howe and James Howe: Through their podcast, they present themselves as opposing what they see as inappropriate sexual instruction in schools, with James Howe's comments illustrating a personal approach to consent within marriage that dismisses the concept as unnecessary.

What to Watch

  • Public reaction and whether Dr Joanna Howe addresses or distances herself from her husband's comments in subsequent episodes or statements.
  • The progress of the digital duty-of-care bill through parliament and any amendments in response to criticism.
  • How the broader consent education debate in Australia evolves, particularly in state curriculum reviews.

Sources

Zotpaper

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