March 4 Justice: Women demand an end to sexual violence and harassment

Brittany Higgins and Australian of the Year Grace Tame have spoken passionately at marches attended by tens of thousands of women around the country.

Women around Australia have come together to demand an end to sexual violence and harassment declaring “enough is enough” after horrific allegations rocked the federal parliament.

About 10,000 women and supporters marched in Sydney as thousands more gathered for March4Justice rallies around the country, including more than 5000 protesters in Canberra, who heard from ­alleged rape survivor Brittany Higgins.

Ms Higgins, who alleges she was raped by a colleague on a couch in the office of Defence Minister Linda Reynolds in 2019, told the crowd her story was a “painful reminder to women” if assault could happen in parliament “it could happen anywhere”.

Brittany Higgins is seen at the rally outside Parliament House. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

Brittany Higgins. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“The system is broken, the glass ceiling is still in place and there are significant failings in the power structures within our institutions,” she said.

Ms Higgins said it was “unfathomable” women were still having to have the “same, stale, tired fight” when it came to ­issues of believing and supporting victims of abuse.

“I was raped inside Parliament House by a colleague,” Ms Higgins alleged. “And for so long it felt like the people around me only cared because of where it happened, and what it might mean for them.”

Ms Higgins’ public allegations have sparked three ongoing reviews into the issue, including an independent ­inquiry into the culture of ­parliament.

“I watched as people hid behind throwaway phrases like due process and presumption of innocence, while failing to acknowledge how the justice system is notoriously stacked against victims of sexual crime,” she said.

A person holds up a sign at Town Hall during the Sydney march. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Protesters holding up placards. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Prime Minister Scott Morrison had offered to meet with a small number of organisers from the Canberra rally to discuss their concerns, but the group chose not to accept, instead asking that he visit the protest.

“More than 100,000 women and allies from every walk of life are standing up to speak. How could meeting with just three women be enough?” event organiser ­Janine Hendry said.

Mr Morrison later addressed the parliament, highlighting shocking data including that one in four women have experienced intimate partner violence since the age of 15, and one Australian woman dies every nine days at the hand of a current or former partner.

“Notwithstanding the many achievements of our nation over many, many years … we must continue to take up this cause,” he said. “Our job is still not yet done. It is far from done on all these matters.”

But Labor leader Anthony Albanese criticised Mr Morrison for not taking time to visit the protest and hear Ms Higgins’ speech.

“Women should be safe in (Parliament House) … (and) wherever they are, whether it’s at work, a recreation activity or of course in the home,” he said.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is seen outside Parliament House at the protest. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

Mr Albanese also yesterday faced questions about anonymous allegations against unnamed members of the Labor Party published by some female staff in a Facebook support group. The allegations included abusive name calling, female staff being plied with alcohol and harassed, and unwelcome propositioning.

Mr Albanese said he did not know how he could proceed when the claims were anonymous, but encouraged any of the women to make a formal complaint.

In Tasmania, 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame addressed protesters in Hobart, telling the crowd “evil thrives in silence”.

“Behaviour unspoken, behaviour ignored is behaviour endorsed,” she said. “The start of the solution is quite simple — making noise.” Protesters also gathered at Town Hall in Sydney, holding placards calling for an end to sexual violence and chanting “justice, now”.

“We are marching for justice and we won’t stop marching until we get change … every single woman and ally who is here today will not stop raising our voice,” MC Jaime Evans said.

Women are seen writing protest banners at Sydney Town Hall. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

The protesters split into groups of 500 for their march toward Parliament House, in line with COVID protocols.

Mother-of-one Sara Yusuf, 36, said she joined the protest to push for more action on ­violence against women.

“I’m here today because in every household a woman is affected by violence.

“It is the biggest public health issue we are facing,” she said.

Hannah Guez, 20, said she and her friends, Hope Pratt, 21, Tess Balodis, 20 and Leah Banyard, 20, decided to march to “fight for women’s rights” and take a stand against the sexual assault allegations which have rocked parliament.

Organisers of the March4Justice movement have demanded all politicians “address and put an end to the issues of sexism, misogyny, dangerous workplace cultures and lack of equality in politics and the community at large”.