Some photos from Australian rallies against gendered violence

Article Summary

Tens of thousands of men, women, and children marched across Australian capital cities and regional towns calling for determined action to end gendered and sexual violence. The No More: National Rally Against Violence saw attendees gather in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, and regional centers in between. The issue of gendered and sexual violence was during the federal election campaign, with advocates saying it barely even hit the sides.

What This Means for You

• Be aware of the pervasive issue of gendered and sexual violence in Australia and the need for determined action.
• Consider supporting organizations and advocates who work towards ending gendered and sexual violence.
• Advocate for increased funding, training, and law reform to combat violence in your local community.
• Stay informed about potential future outlooks or warnings related to gendered and sexual violence in Australia.

Original Post

Tens of thousands of men, women and children have marched across Australian capital cities and regional towns calling for determined action to end gendered and sexual violence.

Advocates say the issue was during the federal election campaign, with “barely even hitting the sides”.

The No More: National Rally Against Violence saw attendees gather in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and regional centres in between.

Protesters gather in Newcastle on Saturday. Source: Getty / Roni Bintang

Organiser Sarah Williams called for more funding, training, and law reform to combat violence.

“We need to be able to stop it before it starts,” she told a 2,000-strong crowd on the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne on Saturday.

“We need more funding for primary prevention, more trauma-informed response training for police, increased crisis housing, bail law reform and uniform consent laws,” she said.

Protesters outside Parliament House in Melbourne honoured the 128 women killed since the start of 2024. Source: AAP / Samantha Lock

Similar rallies played out almost simultaneously in every state capital as well as several regional cities and towns.

Hundreds met in Sydney’s Hyde Park, while the regional centres of Newcastle and Wollongong saw a similar turnout, including the family and friends of Mackenzie Anderson, a young mother who was stabbed 78 times and brutally murdered by her former partner in 2022.

Paper hearts were arranged in Hyde Park as a tribute to victims of gendered and sexual violence. Source: Getty / Lisa Maree Williams

Hundreds more rallied in Brisbane, carrying signs reading “We weren’t asking for it” and “Weak laws cost lives”.

Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, , was also at the rally with a sign reading: “25 women killed and still not an election issue.”

In the lead-up to the rallies, organisers urged more men to attend and take accountability for violence against women.

Marchers in Brisbane. Source: AAP / Darren England

“Men listen to men … we need more male role models out there,” Williams said.

Consent and healthy relationship education should be expanded to more schools with additional funding, and community sporting clubs and major codes could also play a role in reaching different generations, she said.

A total of 128 women have been killed since January 2024, according to the Australian Femicide Watch website.

Key Terms

• Gendered violence
• Sexual violence
• Primary prevention
• Trauma-informed response training
• Crisis housing
• Bail law reform
• Uniform consent laws

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