‘People will believe you’: What Erin Molan wishes she had known earlier about domestic violence
Erin Molan has a message for all the women “suffering in silence,” as thousands protest against Australia’s DV crisis: “I get it. I’ve been you. I’ve told police nothing happened and I’ve told doctors I fell. Reach out to me. ”
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Sky News host Erin Molan has made an emotional plea for Australia to build on the momentum of the No More rallies that took place across the country at the weekend.
“We can do better than staying silent on issues in our own backyard,” she said.
“Seeing the number of men at the rallies over the weekend was heartening. We need men — all men — onboard here to fight this issue.”
Thousands of Australians rallied for a third day to call for an end to violence against women on Sunday, after the deaths of another three women last week.
“Some men get defensive when I speak about this. They say to me that they would never hurt a woman, and it’s offensive that I’d ask them to help with something that has nothing to do with them. But that’s such a cop out,” Molan said.
“Most Australians would have supported a cancer charity in their lives having never had cancer... or fundraised to help a sick child even though their child is healthy.
“Most men are amazing, and we need them.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the No More: National Rally Against Violence event outside Parliament House on Sunday afternoon and 15,000 people gathered in Melbourne, after thousands marched from Belmore to Hyde Park in Sydneyon Saturday, including former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and wife Lucy, as well as NSW Premier Chris Minns and MP Rose Jackson.
TV and radio personality Abbie Chatfield and her partner, Peking Duk musician Adam Hyde were also among the crowds.
“Violence against women is an epidemic. We must do better,” Albanese wrote in a post to Instagram Sunday, echoing Molan’s words: “Governments need to do better and as a society, we need to do better.”
Molan hopes “all the women suffering in silence right now” know that the thousands of Australians rallying in the streets are also here to rally around them.
“I get it. I’ve been you,” she would say to those women.
“I’ve told police nothing happened and I’ve told doctors I fell. I get it.”
The 2Day FM radio host said that many women have reached out to her in recent weeks, and that for them, her inbox is open.
“Reach out to me. So many women have recently,” she said.
“I don’t have the answer, but sometimes just talking to someone who gets it helps.”
“Please know that people do genuinely care and people will believe you.”
The rallies come after 28-year-old mum Molly Ticehurst was allegedly murdered by her ex-partner at her Forbes home last Monday.
In the first four months of 2024, at least 26 Australian women have lost their lives to domestic violence.
“This isn’t a feminist issue or a woke issue or a hating men issue,” Molan continued.
“This is a national crisis that affects us all. I want to worry about my daughter’s first boyfriend breaking her heart — not her bones.”
“And to men…,” Molan said, “...particularly the majority of you who wouldn’t dream of hurting a woman… please help us. We need you.”
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