Gold Coasters demand change in national rallies against violence

Gold Coasters joined the thousands of protesters across the country taking part in nationwide rallies to demand action to address violence against women. Read what they had to say.

Gold Coasters joined the thousands of protesters across the country taking part in nationwide rallies to demand action to address violence against women.

Grassroots organisation What Were You Wearing organised the national rallies against violence with marches and rallies taking place across the country on Saturday.

On the Coast, a crowd braved the rain and gathered with signs at the ready to take part in the rally at Pratten Park, Broadbeach.

Rallies and marches took place nationwide to demand action to address violence against women, including in Toowboomba (pictured) Picture: Tom Gillespie

What Were You Wearing Queensland general manager Hayley Drazic said that in 2025, Australia continues to face a devastating epidemic of violence, particularly against women.

On the day of the rally, 24 women had allegedly been killed by violence in 2025 according to figures from Australian Femicde Watch.

“This crisis demands and requires urgent change,” Ms Drazic said.

The organisations had six demands this year including asking the government for investment in primary prevention, to deliver safe housing, mandate trauma informed first responders, nationally consistent consent laws, fully fund crisis services and reform all bail laws.

Charlotte Chant spoke at the Gold Coast Rally. Picture: Instagram

Speaker Charlotte Chant called for the justice system to prioritise the safety of domestic violence victims and advocated for harsher penalties for domestic violence offenders, including stricter enforcement of protection orders.

“These perpetrators don’t need more rules, they need real consequences,” she said.

“They need to be taken off our streets and not given a second, third or fourth chance to finish what they started. This must end. Changes need to be made.”

Earlier this month the state government moved to introduce new laws to allow Queensland police the power to issue on-the-spot 12-month police protection directions, although the proposed changes have raised concerns with advocates that this could cause victims to be misidentified.

Crowds gathered at Pratten Park, Broadbeach to take part in a nationwide rally against violence on Saturday. Picture: Emily Walker

While speaking to the crowd, Ms Chant acknowledged the families who had lost a loved one to violence.

“Where is their justice?” she said.

“Where is the justice for the mother who buried her daughter? … What do we say to the father who lit candles at funerals instead of walking their daughters down the aisle?”

Originally published as Gold Coasters demand change in national rallies against violence