Former PM Malcolm Turnbull and NSW Premier Chris Minns among thousands across Australia protesting violence against women

Thousands turned out in Sydney as part of a series of rallies demanding action on a massive national crisis.

A former prime minister and the NSW Premier have joined thousands who marched in rallies across the country to protest gender based violence, after an alarming number of women were killed in recent weeks.

“No More: National Rally Against Gender Based Violence” rallies took place in Sydney, Hobart and Adelaide on Saturday afternoon, with 12 more scheduled to go ahead in other capital cities and regional towns on Sunday.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and wife Lucy, as well as NSW Premier Chris Minns and MP Rose Jackson were all in attendance.

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and wife Lucy at the "No More! National Rally Against Violence march in Sydney from Belmore Park at 1PM marching to Hyde Park.Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

NSW Premier Chris Minns pictured marching with family at The "No More! National Rally Against Violence march in Sydney from Belmore Park at 1PM marching to Hyde Park.Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Media personality Abbie Chatfield, who is a vocal advocate of women’s rights, also attended the rally with friends Kath Ebbs and one-half of Peking Duk duo Adam Hyde.

She shared a series of snaps to her Instagram story of the powerfully-worded posters carried by rally attendees.

“Dear not all men … Where the bloody HELL ARE YOU?” one poster read.

“We gave you your lives, stop taking ours,” another said.

Abbie Chatfield is at a Sydney rally. Picture: Instagram

A large crowd has gathered in Sydney to protest against gender based violence. Picture: Instagram

Three women were lost their lives this week, including 28-year-old mother Molly Ticehurst in Forbes, central-west NSW and 49-year-old Emma Bates in Cobram, near the border of NSW and Victoria.

The rallies were already scheduled to take place when a third woman, 30-year-old mother-of-four Erica Hay was found dead after a house fire in Warnbro, in Perth’s south at 1am on Friday.

Police confirmed her death is being treated as a homicide.

The event is Sydney is one of 17 rallies being held across Australia to protest against gender based violence. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

A large crowd has gathered in Sydney to protest against gender based violence. Picture:NCA NewsWire/ Monique Harmer,

A large crowd has gathered in Sydney to protest against gender based violence. Picture: Instagram

A large crowd has gathered in Sydney to protest against gender based violence. Picture: Instagram

Large crowds of protesters in Sydney arrived at Belmore Park at about 1pm on Saturday afternoon and could be seen holding signs stating “sick of inaction,” “tax the billionaires, fund sexual violence response and prevention,” “how many of us have to die?” “it’s not all men but it’s always men,” and “32, too many! Enough!.”

The crowd is expected to march towards Hyde Park.

The rallies, organised by advocacy group What Were You Wearing also took place in Newcastle and Ballarat on Friday.

More are scheduled to take place in Melbourne, Perth, Bendigo, the Sunshine Coast, Geelong, Brisbane, Coffs Harbour, Canberra, Gold Coast, Orange, Wagga Wagga and Combram on Sunday.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that he will join the rally in Canberra on Sunday.

Originally published as Former PM Malcolm Turnbull and NSW Premier Chris Minns among thousands across Australia protesting violence against women