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Why thousands of women are angry

Written by admin on July 27, 2024

Thousands are set to descend on Australian streets this weekend to demand an end to male violence as 54 women have been lost to predominantly male violence this year.

The figures are based on Sherele Moody’s Femicide Watch and compare with about 74 women lost last year.

Rally organiser and What Were You Wearing? (WWYW?) founder Sarah McWilliams said she was deeply concerned by the figures, demanding more be done to curb the horrific violence.

“Just one (death) is more than enough, but if we keep going at this rate we’ll be doubled by the end of the year,” she said.

“Not enough is being done.”

Ms Williams and her non-profit WWYW? organisation have planned nearly 30 No More national rallies against violence across the country this weekend, following on from a string of rallies in April attended by tens of thousands of people.

The rallies demand increased funding for grassroots organisations, specifically men’s behaviour change programs and women’s refuges, as well as mandatory trauma informed training for first responders, including police.

It comes despite the Albanese government committing $925m to a leaving violence payment scheme in May. Eligible victim-survivors can claim packages of up to $5000.

“Frontline services are still screaming out for funding, and we’re one of them,” Ms Williams said.

She added the packages simply weren’t adequate and claimed many women who needed the payments had been denied eligibility.

“Five thousand dollars is nothing, especially for a single mum with kids … especially with the rental crisis and the cost of living; that money is going to be gone in a week’s time,” she said.

Funding won’t fix the bigger issue

It’s understood the Albanese Government funds key training programs, including DV-alert training in the health and community frontline worker sectors.

A gender and disaster recovery program and accredited training for sexual violence responses to train medical professionals and frontline workers to better recognise and respond to victims of sexual violence is also funded by the Albanese government, and $159m has been put into the National Partnership Agreement to support frontline services and the frontline workforce.

However, frontline and emergency services primarily fall under state and territory governments.

The issue runs deeper than funding: How do you solve a deeply complex societal and behavioural issue?

“Let’s just say the funding gets to the services … I’ll be completely honest, it might get a little bit better, but the issue is still going to be there,” Ms Williams said.

“We aren’t educated properly on healthy relationships and victim blaming, and our rape culture in Australia is through the roof.

“Until things like that actually get tackled properly, funding is not going to really help the problem.”

Ms Williams said people with large platforms must use them to bring awareness to violence against women, similar to the AFL Carlton Respects Game, which she said was still just a start.

However, Ms Williams also noted funding was still essential in order to run programs in schools and plan community actions.

Thousands expected to rally

The rallies kicked off on Friday night in Byron Bay and Logan, with further marches peppered across the country over Saturday and Sunday.

Actor and speaker Chloe Hayden is set to deliver a keynote address in Melbourne on Saturday after the Heartbreak High star was spotted at the Geelong rally in April.

“I just reached out to her and was like ‘Look, I know it’s a long shot, but would you potentially speak’? And she was really keen,” Ms Williams said.

The April rallies amassed huge crowds following the Bondi Junction stabbing attack in which six people – including five women – were killed.

Anthony Albanese was previously slammed for making “tone deaf” remarks at one of the rallies outside Parliament House.

Video emerged of the Prime Minister asking Ms Williams whether she wanted him to speak; however, Ms Williams accused Mr Albanese of telling her “I’m the Prime Minister of the country, I run this country” as he stepped up to talk.

The WWYW founder has also denied claims Mr Albanese had asked to speak at the event prior to the day.

Now months on, Ms Williams said she hoped to see Mr Albanese at one of this weekend’s events.

“I’d love to see him at one of the rallies, and I’d love to see him come out and commit more funding or more change,” she said.

Ms Williams added that Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth and Women Minister Katy Gallagher should also be present.

“They 100 per cent should be showing up and sitting there and listening to everyone and then reflecting, talking to their people and committing (to action),” Ms Williams said.

However, Ms Williams claimed many politicians had declined invitations to attend.

“It blows my mind that certain premiers or politicians are like, ‘Oh, busy’. Busy doing what?” she said.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said the safety of women and children experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence is a “national priority” for the government, and that she is working alongside the government every day under the National Plan.

“We will continue to deliver activities that support the Action Plans under the National Plan – including looking at where we may need new activities to achieve our goal under the Plan, particularly in relation to new and emerging risks like online extreme misogyny,” she said.

She added the government allocated more than $3.4 billion for women’s safety across three budgets and convened a dedicated National Cabinet earlier this year.

“Family and domestic violence destroys lives – it must end,” she said.

“There is more to do to achieve our shared goal with states and territories to end violence against women and children in one generation,” she said.

“We all have a role to play in ending violence against women – governments, community members, businesses, social media companies and individuals.”

Where to attend:

Saturday July 27

Yugambeh/Gold Coast, Broadwater Parklands, 10am

Dharawal Land/Wollongong, Crown St Mall Amphitheatre, 11am

Bpangerang/Wangaratta, King George Gardens, 10am

Garramilla/Darwin, Parliament House, 11am

Gimuy/Cairns, Muddy’s Event Lawn, 12pm

Nipaluna/Hobart, parliament Lawns, 1.30pm

Kanamaluka/Launceston, Launceston City Park, 1.30pm