Australia has long grappled with the issue of violence against women, which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described as an “epidemic.” Thousands of people gathered in Sydney and other major cities to demand stricter laws on gender-based violence, following a recent increase in violence against women. In 2021 alone, the government reported that one woman was killed every four days. The rallies were also fueled by a tragic mass shooting in Sydney that claimed the lives of six people, including five women.
Protesters in Sydney called for tougher criminal laws on gender-based violence, carrying signs with messages like “Respect” and “No more violence.” In Adelaide, around 3,000 people gathered in front of the city’s parliament building to make their voices heard. 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 spoke out at an event in Adelaide, calling for a national emergency response to combat gender-based violence. She highlighted 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.