Sydney, Australia – Australians took to the streets of major cities like Sydney and Adelaide to demand an end to violence against women. This comes after a recent tragic stabbing attack at Bondi Junction mall in Sydney left six people dead, including five women. Additionally, Australian actor Orpheus Pledger was arrested after evading authorities for three days on charges of assaulting a woman.
Protesters in various Australian cities displayed signs with messages like “Respect” and “Stop Violence Against Women.” In Sydney alone, an estimated 3,000 people gathered at the city’s parliament building to call for stronger laws to punish perpetrators of violence against women. Greens Party Senator Sarah Hanson-Young emphasized the need for a “national emergency response” to address gender-based violence in Australia, underscoring the frustration felt by women who are often told little can be done to combat such violence.
The advocacy organization “What Were You Wearing” called for three days of demonstrations, stating that 29 women had already been killed by violent men in 2024. The group emphasized that enough is enough and urged people to stand up against this pervasive issue. In addition to Sydney and Adelaide, marches were planned in other major Australian cities like Melbourne and Brisbane.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, of the center-left Labor Party, voiced his support for the rallies and announced his intention to participate in the marches. He acknowledged the severity of the issue, stating that a woman has been killed every four days this year due to violence. In 2021, protests erupted in over 40 cities and towns across Australia against sexual violence and gender inequality, following several rape scandals involving male officials in public office.
The Women’s March 4 Justice protest rally organizers declined an invitation for a closed-door meeting with conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the Parliament House in Canberra, citing his busy schedule as the reason for his absence. Despite the ongoing challenges, the momentum for change and the fight against violence against women in Australia continues to grow among citizens and leaders alike.