Thousands of people gathered in major Australian cities to demand stricter laws on gender-based violence, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese describing it as an “epidemic.” This wave of rallies was in response to a recent increase in violence against women, with the government reporting the death of one woman every four days this year. The rallies were also spurred by a tragic mass shooting in Sydney that claimed the lives of six people, five of whom were women.
In Adelaide, around 3,000 people gathered in front of the city’s parliament building to make their voices heard. Protesters in Sydney called for tougher criminal laws on gender-based violence, carrying signs with messages like “Respect” and “No more violence.” Prime Minister Albanese announced his intention to attend a rally in Canberra to show solidarity with women across Australia in their fight against violence. He emphasized the urgent need to address the epidemic of violence against women and vowed to do better.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young in Adelaide called for a national emergency response to combat gender-based violence, highlighting the weariness among women who are told that not much can be done to address the issue. Similar protests are planned in other cities like Perth, Melbourne, Hobart, and Brisbane over the weekend. Gender-based violence remains a persistent problem in Australia, a country with a population of 26 million people. In 2021, there have been numerous gatherings to raise awareness of sexual abuse and misconduct in the country’s highest political offices.