Over the weekend, 17 rallies took place across Australia, with approximately 15,000 individuals participating in Melbourne alone. The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, remarked on Monday that the demonstrations were a stark reminder of the pressing need for the Australian government to take proactive measures against gender-based violence, as the country grapples with the deaths of 27 women this year believed to be linked to such acts in a population of 27 million.
Albanese's response to the rallies underscored the necessity for immediate and coordinated efforts from all governmental levels to combat the deeply ingrained issue of gender-based violence in the nation. He emphasized that simply showcasing empathy was insufficient in the face of statistics indicating that a woman loses her life at the hands of a partner every four days, labeling it a national crisis. The Prime Minister's intention to convene a meeting with Australian state and territory leaders to discuss a unified response signifies an acknowledgment of the gravity of the situation and the need for collaborative action.
During their attendance at a rally in Canberra, Albanese, alongside Women's Minister Katy Gallagher and Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth, encountered a hostile reception from protesters demanding tangible action and accountability from the government. In response, Albanese stressed the imperative for a shift in focus towards addressing perpetrators and preventing violence, emphasizing the essential need for changes in societal attitudes, cultural norms, and the legal system to effectively combat gender-based violence.