‘Do you want me to speak or not? I am the prime minister’: Albanese caught on film

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was caught on camera at Sunday’s Canberra domestic violence rally asking the organiser whether she wanted him to speak or not, saying “I am the prime minister” before stepping up to take the microphone.

The ABC footage shows the scene moments before the prime minister told the crowd he’d been initially asked not to speak, prompting rally organiser Sarah Williams to start weeping as she cried out that this was “a flat-out lie”.

The rancorous debate over the prime minister’s words at the rally spilled over into Monday, as Williams doubled down on her criticisms of the prime minister, appearing on several national television programs and using her Instagram account to claim she overheard Albanese say: “I’m the prime minister. I run this country.”

While the prime minister refused to discuss Williams’ claims in his morning interviews, the recording first aired on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing shows the prime minister become irritated as Williams said the organisers of the What Were You Wearing rally would consider if the government ministers attending the rally could speak.

Standing on the side, he shrugged and said: “Do you want me to speak or not? I’m the prime minister,” before he stands up and takes the microphone handed to him by Williams.

Minister for Women Katy Gallagher on Monday morning told ABC the confusion over who would speak came from discussions about the five reforms the organisers wanted the government to back if they were going to speak alongside the organisers at the rally.

Rally organiser Sarah Williams looks away as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks at the event calling for an end to violence against women, in Canberra on Sunday.Credit: AAP

Williams used part of her 40-minute speech on Sunday to ask Albanese and Gallagher to signal thumbs up or down if they would agree to the organisation’s demands: to declare a domestic violence national emergency; to block the media from publishing images of victims for 48 hours; mandatory victim-blaming prevention training; alternative reporting options for victims; and increased funding.

Albanese and Gallagher were heckled when they did not respond to this request, but the prime minister rose to speak after Williams told the crowd: “We gave the opportunity to Anthony Albanese to make comments today and we didn’t get any.”

Sitting on the grass next to Gallagher, the prime minister was recorded by Nine saying: “No you haven’t!”

Albanese then addressed the crowd, saying “[We] were told that wasn’t possible and that’s fine. I respect the organisers’ right to do that,” as the crowd booed him and Williams said that was a lie.

Gallagher told ABC’s Radio National Breakfast that she had wished to speak but decided to come in support after they could not agree on the terms.

“I had wanted to speak, it was a rally in my hometown and I thought that was appropriate, but you know, there was some concern about ... the five key asks that were being sought at the rally and you know, a commitment that they were seeking from us, and we weren’t able to reach agreement on how to proceed,” she said.

“In the end, we decided to just walk and attend the rally … as a sign of respect and it’s a sign of solidarity with women around the country.”

Williams told this masthead: “I said at the event, any chance I can convince you guys to set up something with us or to commit to one of the demands, and they said ‘no’.

“So I made it clear I was going to say all the demands and ask them there – the PM didn’t respond to the five demands, the audience started getting upset.

“He never asked to speak, I asked if he would consider speaking and I was told there wasn’t enough time because the march was so soon.”

Asked on Seven’s Sunrise if he had said “I’m the prime minister, I run the country”, Albanese would not comment.

“I’m not going to get into that sort of debate,” he said. “People, including Seven, were there for the recording of everything that went on.”

This masthead spoke to several witnesses at the rally but was unable to independently verify the claim that he said “I run the country”, and he does not say this in the latest video footage.

Albanese also made a point of congratulating Williams for organising the event.

“The organisers throughout the country deserve credit for organising these rallies. I was happy not to speak, I was happy to speak. It was about raising awareness of the issue [and] a call to action [to] all governments. Quite clearly, we need to do more,” he told Nine’s Today program.

“It was an emotional day for people and I get that [it] is an emotional issue because women were saying yesterday, enough is enough.”

Opposition frontbencher Jane Hume said women were hurting and wanted action, not words.

“They want actions, not platitudes,” Hume told Sky News.

“Quite frankly, the fact that the prime minister couldn’t read that room speaks volumes in itself.”

Williams said she had not heard anything from Albanese or Gallagher to apologise for causing her distress and she hoped to see more consultation between the government and activist groups on what was needed to address domestic violence.

“If he does think I’ve done a good job, why hasn’t he reached out, why aren’t we meeting soon, why am I not meeting with an adviser?” she said.

“It would be nice to have a response from him to actually figure out what happened, to see if we could make change, because the priority is to resolve violence against women.”

Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, who was raped in Parliament House on a minister’s couch, posted a comment to Williams’ Instagram sending her love.

“I’m so sorry. This is unacceptable and I am heartbroken you were made to feel so small on a day you accomplished something so incredible. Sending love always,” Higgins wrote.

In 2023, Williams led a nightlife safety campaign, during which she collected more than 20,000 signatures on a petition to the NSW government that resulted in mandated drink-spiking education for venue and bar staff in the state. She also developed Australia’s first sexual assault service for music festivals, which is in place at more than 30 festivals a year.

If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.

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